This volume investigates the impact of closed-circuit television (CCTV) on British police practices and evaluates whether its proliferation signals a shift toward authoritarian surveillance. Benjamin J. Goold, a scholar in criminology and law, utilizes original field research to analyze the operational integration of surveillance technology within police departments. The text challenges prevailing assumptions regarding the relationship between public area monitoring and the expansion of state control, providing a nuanced framework for understanding how police organizations adopt and adapt to new technological tools.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of surveillance technology and law enforcement in the United Kingdom. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the research, which provides a balanced perspective on the practical realities of police work versus theoretical concerns about privacy and state power.