Ever get that feeling you’re being watched?

Well if you live in, work in or pass through central London, you probably are. The Tube is not the only thing lurking underneath our capital’s streets, as this Guardian article and video reveals.

Westminster’s CCTV control room contains 48 screens with feeds from 160 fixed cameras and numerous more mobile units. Operators also receive alerts from police and “red cap” street guides allowing them to tune in to specific incidents.

On separate screens a mother walked a pushchair in Belgravia, a chef emerged from a Chinatown basement clutching bin liners and a cyclist tapped the window of a Burger King restaurant.

What’s also interesting is the centre is seen as a world best practice, with over 6,000 officials from over 30 countries visiting the £1.25m centre since its opening seven years ago.

Britain truly is a barcode nation.