Broadcasting House, Salford Quays & TVC

There is probably a security camera control room as well. If it does get vandalised, the culprits will likely be caught quite quickly.

You obviously didn't go shopping in Boots in the 70s...

Yes those giant orbs with flashing lights that rotated.

They looked like the torture device Darth Vader used on Princess Leia.

http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/1/12/I%27llNeverTell.jpg

There's a sketch to illustrate.

They must have lasted ages, because I remember seeing one less than ten years ago.

And did you reveal where you'd hidden the plans for the battle station?

Nobody likes a tell tale.

There was a department store in Bristol in the 70s (my gran seemed to go there whenever we visited) which had enormous CCTV cameras on the ceiling all over the place.

Scared the crap out of me, I can tell you.

Oh yes, I remember those scary cameras in Boots!! Can't find a picture of them on t'internet but if memory serves they were large, black, upside-down dome shaped things hanging on poles from the ceiling, with three or four camera turrets poking out of them. They would eerily rotate every so often, which I think was the scary part. I think they might have had "For Your Safety" written on them, or something else similarly sinister.

Yeah I realised my mistake there after I typed it but couldn't be bothered to go and correct it

"Was not as prevalent" was what I was aiming for.

Indeed. I was there having a nose around the complex a couple of Saturdays ago. Even though there was nothing going on there (apart from a Helicopter with a gyroscope wescam on the front, taking stock shots of MediaCity I presume) there was at least 2 security guys patroling the main square at all times. Plus, given Quay House and the studio block has people/staff going in and out fairly regularly, it would have to be a fairly brazen and audaicious attempt at anything.

And, I guess there'll be total area CCTV covering the site at all times.

I don't doubt some of the more 'cocky' locals may try something - but as Orry says, it won't get very far or cause that much damage that a landscape gardener couldn't put right in a couple of moments.

I may be mistaken but I seem to recall hearing that, although they had many long lenses emanating from them, only one was truly connected to a camera. This was either to give the impression of full coverage around the store, or so as not to offend customers.

Might be a lot of old twaddle.

But Boots was always a scary shop. I used to find those giant bottles of coloured fluid in the window displays pretty creepy. I think it was to represent medication.

C&A also had those cameras as well!

And Great Mills, to the extent I refused to go in it. I see they filmed an item in the piazza of Media City on this week's BP as well.