The cameras, some of which were hidden, were paid for with £3m of government money earmarked for tackling terrorism.

But the force had to apologise and later commissioned an independent review after angry residents said they had not been consulted.

The report said it put relations with the Muslim community back 10 years.

The scheme, called Project Champion, involved cameras being put up by the Safer Birmingham Project (SBP), made up of the city council, police and agencies in the Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook districts.

Anyone with a laptop can become a crimefighter, with a new computer link-up.

The video vigilante service delivers real-time CCTV footage of shop floors and town centres to subscribers’ home computers.

Viewers can then win prizes of up to £1,000 from operator Internet Eyes if they spot any law-breaking on the thousands of cameras streamed from across Britain.

Shop owners pay £20 per week or £1,000 a year to ensure CCTV cameras in their premises broadcast footage to Internet Eyes, which then forwards it to subscribers.

More than 13,000 people have already indicated their interest in the project, but they must be over 18 and pay £12.99 or £1.99 to view.

The Devon-based firm gives cash prizes each month to citizens who spot the most criminals.

But civil liberties campaigners say the idea is “distasteful” and encourages citizens to spy on each other. Internet Eyes boss Tony Morgan said: “If subscribers see anything suspicious, they can press the Alert button. This sends an instant text and picture message to the shop manager, who then decides what action to take. All you can see is the tops of people’s heads.”

“Well, the main advantage of wireless infrastructure over a wired network is fairly clear,” comments IMS Research senior analyst Niall Jenkins. “Trenching and cabling over long distances can be expensive and wireless networks provide a cost-effective alternative. This is the main reason why the technology has done so well in the city surveillance market where cameras are required across a large area in locations which already have power but no network connection. Wireless infrastructure is an ideal solution.”

“The penetration of wireless infrastructure into other vertical markets in the video surveillance industry has been less successful,” continues Jenkins. “The commercial and transportation markets have seen some uptake in the use of wireless infrastructure; however, in vertical markets such as banking & finance it remains extremely niche as there is a perception that the security system can be breached through the wireless network.”

“To better understand the potential for wireless video surveillance in new vertical markets, IMS Research interviewed security systems integrators and installers of wireless infrastructure used in video surveillance. It is clear from these discussions that wireless solutions are rarely the first option. That being said, most integrators see the potential for wireless infrastructure in the commercial, transportation and education markets and, as they become more familiar with the technology, these markets will stimulate growth for wireless video surveillance equipment.”

The 218 cameras were put up in parts of east Birmingham with a large Muslim population earlier this year.

Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Rowe of West Midlands Police refused to answer questions at a council hearing.

Steve Jolly, who campaigns against the cameras, said the force was not recognising anyone else’s authority.

The force said Ms Rowe did not co-operate because a review by Thames Valley Police was under way.

Anti-terror fund

It is due to be completed towards the end of September and the force said it would discuss the outcomes then.

But Mr Jolly said the force’s stance at the city council hearing did not not improve community relations.

He added that he agreed with the criticisms Roger Godsiff, MP for Hall Green, had made about the force. Some cameras are in his constituency.

“I think what they are doing is not recognising anyone else’s authority,” Mr Jolly said.

“He (Roger Godsiff) said the police are being arrogant and bone-headed and that’s spot on.

“They are piling blunder upon blunder and they say they want to improve relations.”

STOKE, England — A British woman who outraged pet lovers around the world apologized Wednesday after she was caught on surveillance camera dumping a cat in a trashbin.

Mary Bale calls what she did a misjudgment and said the situation has gotten out of control.

Online footage catching her tossing the cat into a bin, and flipping the top closed, sparked angry messages online, and police had to post guards outside her house.  Bale released a statement saying she was “profoundly sorry” but would offer no further explanation.

“As I said, there is a press release that has been sent out, which will hopefully answer some questions.  I’ve got no further comments at this stage,” said Bale.

The cat’s owner says he is aware of Bale’s apology, but said, “it still doesn’t make it right what she’s done.”

Bosses are splashing the cash to improve security across all three terminals. Chiefs are replacing their 20-year-old control system, which is dubbed the heart of their massive security operation.

They say it will be ripped out and replaced with a sophisticated system which will enhance the quality of images produced by the cameras. Bosses say it will serve as ‘electronic eyes’ for workers who will operate the system, as well as improving security.

A spokesman said it will also help crowd monitoring in retail areas, improve baggage handling and help air traffic controllers.

The picture quality is described as exceptional and the system will also monitor airport car parks.

The spokesman said the project will cost £1.15m but said the upgrade was necessary because the existing equipment dated back to 1990.

He said: “The new system will enhance our operational efficiency and the scope of all CCTV activities across the site.”

The airport will pay £1m to Leeds-based video surveillance company Coe Group and £150,000 to Advanced Integrated Systems, which has headquarters in Huddersfield, to carry out the work.

It is hoped the system will be operational by the end of the summer season.

Last month, the M.E.N revealed that the airport was installing spy cameras in its car parks after a surge in drivers dodging parking fees.

The cameras check number plates and drivers caught dodging fees will be sent £90 penalty notices. Anyone who fails to pay will be pursued through the courts.

In a spot check 27 drivers were seen ‘tailgating’ other vehicles to get under the car park barrier in just one hour.

The future of Oswestry’s award-winning CCTV system could become clearer following talks which are due to take place at a meeting tonight.

The decade-old camera system, one of the biggest, volunteer-run CCTV projects in Britain, desperately needs renewing.

Shropshire Council, which is carrying out a review of surveillance cameras across the county, has been invited to tonight’s meeting of Oswestry Town Council to discuss the future of the town’s system and its funding and resources.

Town councillors are hoping the unitary authority will be able to offer support for cameras in Oswestry.

The future of Oswestry’s award-winning CCTV system could become clearer following talks which are due to take place at a meeting tonight.

The decade-old camera system, one of the biggest, volunteer-run CCTV projects in Britain, desperately needs renewing.

Shropshire Council, which is carrying out a review of surveillance cameras across the county, has been invited to tonight’s meeting of Oswestry Town Council to discuss the future of the town’s system and its funding and resources.

Town councillors are hoping the unitary authority will be able to offer support for cameras in Oswestry.

Earlier this year the volunteer scheme launched a major fundraising campaign urging businesses to donate £1 per week to help bring the CCTV system up to date. But the scheme has not yet brought in enough funds to look at replacing the system.

Oswestry CCTV went live in 2001 after Oswestry Town Council offered to pay for the CCTV system, costing in excess of £112,000.

Running costs of £18,000 needed to fund the system for five years were raised by businesses and the public.

Scheme co-ordinator Amanda McGregor said: “Oswestry Volunteer CCTV is one of a handful of public CCTV schemes in the country using volunteer operators. It is, however, the only one with such large numbers of volunteers giving up their valuable time with no reimbursement and has often been named as the most successful volunteer-run CCTV scheme in the country.

An apprentice working with Wessex Fire and Security has won the annual Apprentice Skills Challenge, which took place over the four days of security show, IFSEC.

Richard Atherton, who is studying at Yeovil College in Somerset, was recognised after he installed a complete security system and connected it successfully to an alarm receiving centre in 1.5 hours.

Trevor Jenks, security and fire alarms systems specialist and course tutor at the North Dorset Skills Centre in Shaftesbury, Waltham Forest, Chichester and Warwick colleges, said: “We are delighted and very encouraged that Wessex Fire and Security continue to support apprentices in such a positive and supportive manner and that one of their apprentices currently studying with us at Yeovil College has won this prestigious award.”

Yeovil College offers fully-funded apprenticeships for security and emergency systems covering intruder and fire alarms.

The award, sponsored by CSL Dual Com and in association with Skills for Security, the SSAIB and the NSI, is to be presented at the Security Excellence Awards in October.

The initiative will be launched today by British Transport Police (BTP) in an attempt to trace drivers who flout regulations, and comes amid heightened scrutiny of the safety of the crossings.

There were 13 fatalities recorded at level crossings in 2009, including three pensioners who were killed at Halkirk in Caithness in September when a train struck their car.

Politicians have called on Network Rail, which owns and operates rail infrastructure, to improve the safety of crossings and erect barriers where there are none.

There are 128 unmanned, open crossings in the UK – 23 of them in Scotland – that have warning lights and sirens but no barriers.

Following the Halkirk tragedy, the Office of Rail Regulation announced it would inspect the entire network to ensure all crossings complied with safety regulations and were properly managed.

It followed warnings by accident inspectors that some automated crossings with no barriers – typically used on quiet, rural lines – might not comply with industry safety standards.

However, Network Rail has insisted that 96% of incidents at level crossings are caused by driver error.

Superintendent Jim McKelvie, head of operations for BTP in Scotland, said: “In partnership with Network Rail, we have made advances in influencing driver behaviour and making them aware of the dangers associated with risking lives at level crossings. Our officers will be out in force at crossings all over the country and will continue to use days like today to drive home the message that level crossing misuse is unacceptable.

“The use of the newly established camera enforcement vehicles will allow officers to target level crossings anywhere in the country and react to a location where misuse is reported by rail staff or members of the public.”

Big Brother Watch – a group that campaigns against what it described as “intrusions on privacy and freedom” – published figures showing that 372 councils across the country have authorised 8,575 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) operations during the period.

The legislation gives authorities the power to carry out surveillance for a number of reasons. They are known as ‘directed surveillance or covert human intelligence source’ operations.

Rushmoor Borough Council used the power eight times between April 2008 and March 2010 to monitor people suspected of committing benefit fraud.

Hart District Council used it nine times, including once to investigate whether a taxi driver was properly licensed.

Hart’s operations included trying to catch someone who was putting a card skimming device on a cash machine and investigating whether a pub was opening after its licensed hours.

The new coalition government plans to change the law so that the power can only be used to stop serious crime and only when signed off by a magistrate.

Big Brother Watch director Alex Deane said: “Now that the absurd and excessive use of RIPA surveillance has been revealed, these powers have to be taken away from councils.

“The coalition government plan to force councils to get warrants before snooping on us is good but doesn’t go far enough.

“If the offence is serious enough to merit covert surveillance, then it should be in the hands of the police.”