FED: 'We need more cops on the road': poll

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2010
FED: 'We need more cops on the road': poll

EDs: Embargoed until 0001 (AEST) Thursday, April 29.



By Peter Veness

CANBERRA, April 29 AAP - Australians want their roads and credit cards watched more
but don't like the idea of the government watching when they're surfing the net.

That's the findings of a fresh Unisys Newspoll looking at personal security measures
across the country.

Almost 90 per cent of those surveyed want more police on the roads to nab drink drivers,
speeders and others.

And 72 per cent of the 1200 respondents called for their banks to watch their accounts more.

But it seems additional security isn't wanted everywhere.

"The support of Australians towards increased surveillance varies significantly depending
on the context: who is conducting surveillance of what activity and, we suspect, the
perceived personal benefit of the activity," Unisys David Chadwick said in a statement.

Just 40 per cent of Australians want the government to increase its surveillance of
their personal web browsing.

"This issue is particularly topical with the federal government's internet filtering
project currently under debate," Mr Chadwick said.

But that statistic turns the other way when people are queried about their bosses watching
their `net usage at work.

"It appears that that while people may not be wild about the idea, they tolerate and
understand the right of an employer to know how their equipment is being used," Mr Chadwick
said.

The survey found Australians are more willing to embrace higher levels of surveillance
if they feel there is something to gain.

"It's important to understand how Australians feel about surveillance in different
situations," Mr Chadwick said.

"Australians appear to be wary of surveillance when they do not see a clear personal benefit."

AAP pv/sb/stu/evt/cdh

KEYWORD: SECURITY (EMBARGOED)

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