Has other uses as well.............
This will have the locals up in arms.. Wonder when the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon will be using this.....
When I first read this I thought they had used drone technology but I don't suppose it would take much to develop that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2346759/Council-uses-spy-plane-thermal-imaging-cameras-catch-immigrants-living-illegally-garden-sheds.html
Quote:
A council is using thermal spy cameras mounted on an aircraft to catch thousands of immigrants living illegally in garden sheds, it emerged today.
Slough borough council believes that up to 3,000 people are being housed in the unsafe and primitive 'sheds with beds', which often lack heating or running water.
In a bid to track them down, it has spent £24,000 on flights to build up a precise 3D map of every building in the Berkshire town.
The plane, mounted with thermal-imaging equipment, was tasked with picking up any heat emitted from outbuildings, a sign that people could be living in them illegally.
Slough borough council believes that up to 3,000 people are being housed in the unsafe and primitive 'sheds with beds', which often lack heating or running water.
In a bid to track them down, it has spent £24,000 on flights to build up a precise 3D map of every building in the Berkshire town.
The plane, mounted with thermal-imaging equipment, was tasked with picking up any heat emitted from outbuildings, a sign that people could be living in them illegally.
We will see ever more of this going forward.
Councils hands are tied with increasing the council tax, Government are restricting this and truth be known if they were to increase it as much as they would like it will only push more people into arrears.
As far as this tax goes with falling earnings and inflation the laffer curve has been reached.
We have seen TV programs in the last few weeks about how Hammersmith (and other councils) are using traffic fixed penalty offences as an income stream rather than a deterrent to improve driving making the roads safer for everyone. Only the other day Newham were found to be using uncertified traffic camera's in breach of the law as much as persons supposedly speeding but they refuse point blank to return the fines levied.
They break the law but because they are a 'council' they think they are immune.
The (expensive report) they had Price Waterhouse draw up mentions this 'would have a significant effect on councils finances'..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22993060
So the net effect is Councils up and down the land are at last having their budgets squeezed. No longer can they simply whack it up to whatever there vanity projects indicate they deserve.
The result is they will look for ever more intuitive ways to raise revenue....
There is a whole new untapped income stream in fining landlords for illegal conversions and where they choose to apply for permission to obtain 'legality' even more in ongoing council tax on the new constructions.
The temptation for other councils to follow suit will be unrivalled....
Those public sector pensions will not pay themselves you know.....
