Whenever I go back to the UK, I am always amazed at the number of CCTV cameras around the place. They seem to be on every street, every shopping mall, and in just about every public place you venture into. I notice them creeping in in Australia, but still nowhere near the extent that they are in the UK.

Another interesting observation, is that despite the proliferation of CCTV into every corner of our lives, crime, particularly in the UK is on the rise. It's almost as if the camera's are providing an incentive for 'hooded yoofs' and 'happy slappers' to do their stuff.

I'm sure a lot of them think that because there is a camera close by, they are auditioning for some sort of 'Thug Idol' TV show. A lot of them even insist on filming their 'happy slapping' performances on their own mobile phones, and posting the footage on YouTube. Way to go. I can only assume that they do this in case the CCTV unit closest to them is broken, or the fat security guard that is observing the footage has slipped out for a sly fag and to scratch his balls.

Obviously, this poses a problem to the police. So much so, that they seem to have given up relying on the installed CCTV units, and have now taken to popping down to the local shopping mall in a subtle but tasteful van, to film what goes on during the day.

You can see a picture of one in action that I took when visiting Eastbourne recently. I can only assume that they were there keeping an eye out for any pensioners that have tripped over their walking frames and hurt themselves. Can't really see them being a danger to anybody else.

I'd really like to start a bit of a craze, where people take photos of the local constabulary watching us. I think it's only fair. I may even set up a competition with a prize for the best photo of a mobile police CCTV unit.

Even though this activity now seems to be common place in England, I think it's great to see the Ozzies adding their own touch of style to a bit of innovative police work. I took this next photo on the Gold Coast in Queensland, down at the Southport Spit.

As you can see, we have three of Queensland's finest, sitting in deckchairs, on the beach, with radar guns. What are they doing? I hear you ask. Well, they are actually trying to catch speeding boats and jet-skis. When they clock a speeding boat, they heroically jump onto their special police jet-ski, (a bit like a David Hasselhoff character) and chase the culprit down, handing them a waterproof speeding ticket when they catch them. (If there are any disgruntled UK based police reading this, Queensland is the place you need to send your next job application to.)

When I approached them to take their photo, they were a little frosty, and warned me that I was 'Interfering in their investigation into a federal felony' I didn't stay and chat.