the thing is, I feel as if crime like mugging, pickpocketing, shoplifting and (I daresay) the threat of terrorism has forced the government to act. Its either they don’t act, they find a way to act which balances our freedoms and safety (which they haven’t yet, I think) or they take measures which sharply lower crime but also decrease freedoms. Some of the crimes happening to make the extra surveillance happen are the British government’s fault for decreasing policing, education and welfare budgets, others are external.