Big Brother is watching you!

Scotsman | Nov 23, 2006

SMOKERS stubbing out cigarettes in the street have been chased by environmental wardens armed with cameras in a city centre litter crackdown.

A council team has been scouring the Old Town this week trying to catch litter louts in the act, a drive which has raised more than a few eyebrows.

One girl was stopped and quizzed after discarding the end of her sandwich, while another untidy citizen was reprimanded during his music class after being followed by the wardens.

And the keen-as-mustard environmental officers even attempted to track a diner to an Old Town restaurant after he was spotted throwing away his cigarette.

The council today defended the use of mobile cameras alongside the highly-visible wardens, and said the crackdown reassured local businesses and residents.

The Evening News joined traders and commuters watching in slight bemusement yesterday morning as the CCTV van parked up on George IV bridge.

Two large pivoted cameras and several smaller ones filmed passers-by, while at least two pairs of environmental wardens patrolled the streets.

Simon Angelosanto, 21, who works in the Elephant House coffee shop on George IV bridge, said: “It is a total waste of money – I dread to think what that van costs. They just sit there waiting for an unsuspecting member of public to be caught on camera dropping litter.”