RNLI TV cameras

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emnick

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Just read in YM that the RNLI are fitting cameras to almost all of their rescue boats. I am not sure that I want my monthly donations spent on helmet cams and what looks like super pan tilt motorised cameras on the boats at £7.2k!

I guess that the rescues are sold to the highest bidder? Whilst I am sure it's also a training tool I would be happier if it was just that.

They say that they will seek permission of anybody who is identifiable but they make no mention of the vessel. I think that in alot of cases the person being rescued would possibly feel bad withholding permission?? And also possibly be embarrassed at having to be rescued which I would be uncomfortable with.

Could insurance companies demand the footage?

Not sure why I am unhappy with this but I am!
 
A friend of mine's ex-girlfriend runs the RNLI Video Department. I will see if I can find out what the "rules of engangement" are.
 
So - you've lost your boat, had a narrow escape from death, been told you're an idiot by the YBW forumites, and now you can expect your disgrace and humiliation to be shown on TV for public entertainment.
 
Are the independant lifeboats doing the same? Hullo Coastguard we are sinking and want to negotiate a non "YouTube" rescue!
 
This has been discussed to death in the thread referred to by prv.

Only the largest lifeboats have a moveable camera fitted. Some of the Atlantic class boats have a small fixed camera on the A-frame, which records onto a memory card.

Here is what I posted in the previous thread, regarding the privacy issue:



The RNLI issues an instruction booklet to each lifeboat station that has a video camera fitted to their boat.

The section on Ethics and Consent consists of six pages of A4 giving guidance on when and when not to film, privacy, sensitivity etc.

To put it very simply, the RNLI's policy is that if a person can be easily identified by their face, or their voice, or the name of their boat, then permission is needed. And obviously, if someone isn't in a position to give consent, ie badly injured, unconcious, dead, then that's a no-no as well.

The only exception to all this being if the MAIB demand it as evidence under the Merchant Shipping Act.

You may feel it to be voyeuristic to film rescues, but the harsh reality is that the RNLI is effectively in competition with every other charity for donations, there is only so much money available, and it is important to keep its activities in the public eye.

Video and photos has proved to be a very cost-effective way of doing so.

Juan Twothree

(a volunteer lifeboat crewman, as you may have gathered)

 
This was my reply on the earlier post mentioned by PRV Pete, and I feel the same now;

I am not surprised by 'head cams' on self agrandaising police, but I hope I never see an ambulance Paramedic filming my girlfriend when she's lying unconscious after a car accident with her skirt up, for fundraising, showing to his mates or Youtube.

As a pro photographer ( not forensic ) I was asked to take shots of an accident scene with a mother & baby unconscious, possibly dead or dying, inside a car - I told the person asking to get lost, they were a friends' family, which I still think right today; I think and actually hope I'd have got filled in by other colleagues if I'd tried.

There is the other point that such CCTV ( which I know is already established in RNLI ) is counter productive, just like charging for rescues but worse, if one has to make a Mayday call knowing one's going to end up on youtube it's rather a deterrent.
 
Seajet said:
This was my reply on the earlier post mentioned by PRV Pete, and I feel the same now;


There is the other point that such CCTV ( which I know is already established in RNLI ) is counter productive, just like charging for rescues but worse, if one has to make a Mayday call knowing one's going to end up on youtube it's rather a deterrent.
Click to expand...

Please read what I posted (immediately above your post).

If you don't give your consent for the RNLI to the use any video footage, then they wont.

It really is that simple.
 
Juan Twothree said:
You may feel it to be voyeuristic to film rescues, but the harsh reality is that the RNLI is effectively in competition with every other charity for donations, there is only so much money available, and it is important to keep its activities in the public eye.
Click to expand...

So your fund raising is more important than respecting people's privacy is it?
 
Juan Twothree said:
Please read what I posted (immediately above your post).

If you don't give your consent for the RNLI to the use any video footage, then they wont.

It really is that simple.
Click to expand...

I have noticed in BBC 'sea rescue' programmes that the boat and name are clearly shown, so pixellating the faces of the crew is not very much help to their privacy !
 
Juan Twothree said:
If you don't give your consent for the RNLI to the use any video footage, then they wont.
Click to expand...
I would be interested in who gave permission for the Liquid Vortex footage to be released?

While we all learnt a great deal from the film and thread. I now wonder if the skipper or company owner gave the RNLI permission to post it.
 
Juan Twothree said:
No, please read what I said.

Unless you agree to the RNLI using the footage, then they won't.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't even be asking the question because you shouldn't be thinking of invading people's privacy in the first place. You are a rescue service - not part of the entertainment industry.
 
parsifal said:
So your fund raising is more important than respecting people's privacy is it?
Click to expand...

Hold on! He said if you dont want it to be shown, it wont be. I take that to be respecting privacy. I also think that if others are going into danger on your behalf, there are far more important considerations than being filmed. Also, to your question re fundraising, the answer must be yes, as long as the RLNI have to generate funds to run the service on our behalf.
 
I think that the RNLI is a near monopoly, which needs to be broken up...

..then we'll be entitled to confusion marketing and inpenetrable documents setting out the best deals:

* sea safety advice
* the above, plus inshore assistance
* the above, plus offshore assistance
* the above, plus actual rescue (lifeboat only)
* the above, plus helicopter rescue
* half-price on any of the above for consent to use video material as publicity
* if the above goes viral, then the full cost of the rescue will be refunded

DSC-enabled radios would allow one to select which franchised lifeboat to call out and/or helio.

The lifeboat crew carrying out the greatest number of resuces (lives saved, not vessels recovered) would be automatically entered into the final of Strictly Come Rescuing.

:D
 
The only video clips the media will be interested in are those that are dramatic. In such situations, people are likely to be shocked and not thinking straight. They are also in a vulnerable, dependent position and might agree to anything out of relief or gratitude. Even if permission is sought afterwards, there is a danger of people's gratitude being exploited. If I was rescued I would want to make as generous a donation as I could afford but no way would I want the incident be shown on the box for other people's entertainment.

It also seems to me that rescuers at the scene should either be completely focussed on the rescue or not there at all.

As for 'The section on Ethics and Consent consists of six pages of A4 giving guidance on when and when not to film, privacy, sensitivity etc.'. I am amazed that anyone even contemplated adopting such a policy, let alone producing a six page document on it.

Anyway, there's not much point in getting into an argument about it. I think the practise is repugnant and I can't think of anything that would make me change my mind.
 
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Well, I don't give a flying f**k. If and when I need extracting from the excrement I will be happy to see a rescuer with the ability and wherewithal for my extraction and if he brings a whole tv production team with him, I don't care. If you guys don't want to be on the telly, either don't get into the proverbial or just drown like gentlemen.
 
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