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Rob Ratcliff was the Content and Community Manager of IFSEC Global.com. He is a self-confessed everyman in the world of security and fire, keen to learn from the global community of experts who have been a part of IFSEC for 40 years now.
A rare example of community spirit caught on CCTV has been released to the public.
In what one councillor called a “remarkable” example of public-spirited behaviour, up to five young men were caught on public video surveillance repairing a bike stand that had been damaged by a car hitting it.
The footage was recorded at around 3 a.m. on the streets of Boston, Lincolnshire, and released by Boston Borough Council this week. The damage to the bike stand had been reported to the council, but by the time council workers came to repair it, they found the job had already been done.
We recorded the whole sequence. At first two lads had a go and then encouraged others to help. At one point five were pushing and pulling. To look at the bike rack now you would hardly know it had been damaged.
The young men were waiting outside a kebab shop at the time the footage was recorded. Hunn continued to say how this shows that “the night-time economy is not all about bad lads doing bad things.”
Young people often get a bad press and this shows there are some who want to contribute to their society and do the right thing. It shows young people acting in a very positive and constructive manner and shows they have a good and responsible attitude to what’s happening in their town.
It’s always nice to see security cameras catching commendable behaviour. Have you got any examples of community-spirited incidents caught on camera?
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‘Lads’ Caught on Camera Repairing Bike RackA rare example of community spirit caught on CCTV has been released to the public. In what one councillor called […]
Robert Ratcliff
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Brian Sims
September 13, 2013 4:46 am
Hi Rob. Great video!
I notice that one of the good spirited guys in the film is wearing a Download Festival T-shirt. Proof of what I’ve always said… That Heavy Metal fans are the best in the business!
JonathanL
September 13, 2013 9:03 am
That is great, hats off to these guys for taking the time to do a good thing especially when they didnt have to. Seems like anymore when you hear about things caught on camera it never ends well but I think my faith in humanity is restored a little for today!
It was great of these guys to do this. It just reminds you that there’s still good out there. We’re always reading about bad news and murders and war and all that in the news. It’s definitely refreshing to see encouraging and positive reports like these.
I started seeing this story the day after it happened. I kept waiting to hear that they tracked down the guys fixing the bike rack and ticketed them for vandalism or loitering or something along those lines. It just seemed too good of a story to not have someone mess it all up. Hopefully though seeing this will encourage others to follow in their footsteps so maybe we can see reality TV shows of people doing good things rather than stupid things.
I liked how two guys took on the project and as they realized they weren’t going to get the job done some of the more sheepish guys pitched in. You could see on some of their faces that they had reservations about bending or unbending that bike rack. I’m sure they wondered if they were going to see flashing lights and have to explain what they were doing.
I didn’t stop to think about the camera operator, I wonder if they had bets in the control room on the outcome of their attempt to unbend the pipe. I wonder how often they sit there trying to figure out what is going on before raising the alarm.
Peole sometimes forget that the value of a CCTV system isn’t always in proving guilt. Sometimes it is in proving innocence. Someone making an honest mistake versus stealing, or repairing a bike rack instead of breaking it. Honest people often object less to CCTV and other security measures
@Robert Spurr this the first ever incident I have seen where people are commended for their job after getting caught by CCTV camera. I think its a true depiction about how CCTV can be used. Good video indeed.
I guess I do fall into that category, honestly it stops me from doing good deeds from time to time because I’ve been there doing the right thing only to spend a much longer period of time having the whole situation sorted out. I can’t say that I ever got to see video evidence that I wasn’t up to no good but there have been a couple times that I was sure a camera operator is the one who sent the authorities my way.
True, an honest mistake or misunderstanding can be easily resolved with video evidence, something that I certainly forget as well when thinking about surveillance.
How does the council stand with the Data Protection Act for releasing this sort of footage, I’m sure they don’t have “For the protection of persons, prevention of theft or vandalism and for the enjoyment of the Security Industry” in their policy? I suppose clips from abroad are exempt but this is obviously from the UK, and from the resolution of the images it would be very easy to identify the lads, should anyone want to stand outside the kebab shop next Friday or Saturday night and ask their opinion. OK this doesn’t show the lads in a negative light,… Read more »
Hm, good point. I doubt they’ll be complaining to the ICO given the latest news I just this moment saw:
Boston bike rack repairers rewarded with kebabs
Revellers who repaired a bike rack on a night out in Lincolnshire have been honoured with a free takeaway and thanks from the town’s mayor.
It sounds like we’re all in agreement that cameras are an effective deterrant. What is up for debate is whether or not they’re effectively deterring good behavior as well as bad behavior.
Still, this positive outcome, if well publicized, may lead to more similar sightings.
SunitaT
September 25, 2013 4:31 am
This is the general dilemma in our societies that people face while thinking of doing some good act. I mean how many people will give a ride to a person standing on a deserted road? Whether he decides to give him a ride, he thinks twice if he is not going to commit a mistake and get robbed by the same person.
@ safeNsane, you are right they seem to have reservations about the act. Besides the concerns of having to explain their intention and act, they might be thinking about what would happen if they broke the rack in the process. That would have been difficult to justify and explain that they were doing it in good spirit.
Hi Rob. Great video!
I notice that one of the good spirited guys in the film is wearing a Download Festival T-shirt. Proof of what I’ve always said… That Heavy Metal fans are the best in the business!
That is great, hats off to these guys for taking the time to do a good thing especially when they didnt have to. Seems like anymore when you hear about things caught on camera it never ends well but I think my faith in humanity is restored a little for today!
Glad to hear it!!
This is a good example of how CCTV can work
It was great of these guys to do this. It just reminds you that there’s still good out there. We’re always reading about bad news and murders and war and all that in the news. It’s definitely refreshing to see encouraging and positive reports like these.
My sentiments, exactly. Thanks for sharing the video, Rob. Hopefully more people take the lead from these guys and spread the goodwill all around.
I agree and I know spreading the video will encourage everyone to take on some moral responsibility as citizen in our communities
Though, there’s not much to do in Boston at night!!!
I started seeing this story the day after it happened. I kept waiting to hear that they tracked down the guys fixing the bike rack and ticketed them for vandalism or loitering or something along those lines. It just seemed too good of a story to not have someone mess it all up. Hopefully though seeing this will encourage others to follow in their footsteps so maybe we can see reality TV shows of people doing good things rather than stupid things.
There was a video last year that showed a compilation of nice acts caught on CCTV that was bundled up as a Coke ad. We had it here: https://www.ifsecglobal.com/document.asp?doc_id=555392&site=ifsecglobal Not 100% sure they’re all genuine mind.
It is, yes. The funny thing is how much fun it looks like they’re having!
I liked how two guys took on the project and as they realized they weren’t going to get the job done some of the more sheepish guys pitched in. You could see on some of their faces that they had reservations about bending or unbending that bike rack. I’m sure they wondered if they were going to see flashing lights and have to explain what they were doing.
I reckon the camera operator thought they were up to no good at first too
Have a tea party? Wait no that’s the other Boston…
I didn’t stop to think about the camera operator, I wonder if they had bets in the control room on the outcome of their attempt to unbend the pipe. I wonder how often they sit there trying to figure out what is going on before raising the alarm.
Peole sometimes forget that the value of a CCTV system isn’t always in proving guilt. Sometimes it is in proving innocence. Someone making an honest mistake versus stealing, or repairing a bike rack instead of breaking it. Honest people often object less to CCTV and other security measures
Sounds like I’m not the only one who has experienced the old adage, “no good deed goes unpunished!”
@Robert Spurr this the first ever incident I have seen where people are commended for their job after getting caught by CCTV camera. I think its a true depiction about how CCTV can be used. Good video indeed.
I guess I do fall into that category, honestly it stops me from doing good deeds from time to time because I’ve been there doing the right thing only to spend a much longer period of time having the whole situation sorted out. I can’t say that I ever got to see video evidence that I wasn’t up to no good but there have been a couple times that I was sure a camera operator is the one who sent the authorities my way.
True, an honest mistake or misunderstanding can be easily resolved with video evidence, something that I certainly forget as well when thinking about surveillance.
How does the council stand with the Data Protection Act for releasing this sort of footage, I’m sure they don’t have “For the protection of persons, prevention of theft or vandalism and for the enjoyment of the Security Industry” in their policy? I suppose clips from abroad are exempt but this is obviously from the UK, and from the resolution of the images it would be very easy to identify the lads, should anyone want to stand outside the kebab shop next Friday or Saturday night and ask their opinion. OK this doesn’t show the lads in a negative light,… Read more »
Hm, good point. I doubt they’ll be complaining to the ICO given the latest news I just this moment saw:
Boston bike rack repairers rewarded with kebabs
Revellers who repaired a bike rack on a night out in Lincolnshire have been honoured with a free takeaway and thanks from the town’s mayor.
It sounds like we’re all in agreement that cameras are an effective deterrant. What is up for debate is whether or not they’re effectively deterring good behavior as well as bad behavior.
Still, this positive outcome, if well publicized, may lead to more similar sightings.
This is the general dilemma in our societies that people face while thinking of doing some good act. I mean how many people will give a ride to a person standing on a deserted road? Whether he decides to give him a ride, he thinks twice if he is not going to commit a mistake and get robbed by the same person.
@ safeNsane, you are right they seem to have reservations about the act. Besides the concerns of having to explain their intention and act, they might be thinking about what would happen if they broke the rack in the process. That would have been difficult to justify and explain that they were doing it in good spirit.