HOME Secretary John Reid has denied plans to expand the use of "talking" CCTV cameras across the country were "Big Brother gone mad".
Loudspeakers are being fitted to cameras in 20 areas, allowing CCTV operators to bark commands at people committing anti-social behaviour.
An existing scheme in Middlesbrough has been used to stop vandals and tell litterbugs to pick up their rubbish.
Council workers in a control centre can monitor pictures from 12 talking cameras in the town, and communicate directly with people on the street at the flick of a switch.
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