Mike McCahill – författare

The rise of CCTV and surveillance technologies has been one of the key developments in contemporary society, but its impact has often been analysed in a fragmented manner. This book addresses this issue by providing a detailed, micro-sociological account of the construction of a CCTV network in one English city. It differs from previous studies (which have concentrated on open street CCTV systems) in documenting and analysing the use of visual surveillance systems in a number of different locations and institutional settings, including the industrial workplace, shopping malls, high-rise housing schemes, and hospitals. It is concerned not just with abstract categories of 'grand theory' but seeks to explain how people living in contemporary society experience these changes. The Surveillance Web situates the growth of visual surveillance systems in the context of many of the key concerns of theorists of modernity, and makes a key contribution to understanding the nature of the relationship between surveillance and society. Its starting point is to view the relationship between surveillance and society as a two way process: the book looks at both the social impact of visual surveillance systems, and at how the impact of these technologies is shaped by existing social relations, political practice and cultural traditions. provides a richly textured account and analysis of the introduction of visual surveillance technologies (CCTV) in an English cityexplores the impact of the introduction and use of visual surveillance systems in a wide variety of locales and institutional settings, both public and privatemakes a key contribution to theoretical debates over the relationship between surveillance systems and society, one of the central concerns of theorists of modernity

Surveillance has a long-standing relationship with crime and its identification, prevention, detection and punishment. With information on each citizen spanning up to 700 databases, and over 4 million CCTV cameras in the United Kingdom alone, this book explores how new technologies have given rise to new forms of monitoring and control.

 

Offering a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between surveillance, crime and criminal justice, this book explores:

the development of surveillance technologies within a broad historical context how new surveillance technologies are shaped by existing social relations, political practices, cultural traditions and organizational contexts the implications of the use of surveillance in responding to crime (including biometrics, DNA samples and electronic monitoring) how 'new' surveillance technologies reinforce 'old' social divisions - particularly along the lines of class, race, gender and age.

The book draws upon theoretical debates from a range of disciplines to shed light on this topical subject. Engaging and authoritative, this is an important read for advanced students and academics in criminology, criminal justice, social policy and sociology.

 

 

The Key Approaches to Criminology series celebrates the removal of traditional barriers between disciplines and, specifically, reflects criminology’s interdisciplinary nature and focus.  It brings together some of the leading scholars working at the intersections of criminology and related subjects.  Each book in the series helps readers to make intellectual connections between criminology and other discourses, and to understand the importance of studying crime and criminal justice within the context of broader debates. 

 

The series is intended to have appeal across the entire range of undergraduate and postgraduate studies and beyond, comprising books which offer introductions to the fields as well as advancing ideas and knowledge in their subject areas.