Hacker News: benbristow

New comment by benbristow in "Android apps running native on macOS"

benbristow — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:10:45 +0000

Can you disable certificate pinning? Be a good way to reverse engineer APIs if so.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:03:49 +0000

Have you seen the prices of clothes from the stores I mentioned? Not cheap unless they're knock-offs.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:01:27 +0000

Honestly, sounds like a good idea. Scumbag behaviour.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:24 +0000

Can't say I disagree.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:59:13 +0000

Not arrest, you could monitor though. Personal anecdote but it's clear that after 3pm/4pm once they leave school they start to scatter around. It's rather peaceful for the most part before then. Chaos on school holidays.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:57:43 +0000

I have no idea what Flock is, last I knew it was a web browser designed for social media which failed.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:51:22 +0000

It's a catch-22. They're boarded up realms because even after the online shopping revolution and attempts to regenerate them people don't want to go because they're full of deadbeats and ASB. Who would want to open a business there? For christ sake our local McDonalds is now playing Mozart at full blast in the evening outside to try and keep the ferral youth away as it's in the bang center and a popular hangout spot. It's somewhat working to an extent, but they're still around.

There's going to be a generation of ex-youths nostalgic for Mozart from their days hanging around McDonald's - I'd get shares in Classic FM if you've got money.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:48:07 +0000

I would agree to having more police in the street, but their budget just seems to be getting cut week after week and they're struggling. They seem to be around 9-5 and after that the streets turn into a free-for-all.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:55:05 +0000

Wasn't saying arrest, I mean pre warning/monitoring. If you run a shop you'd get an alert saying watch your fours.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:33:50 +0000

It's not just them, you've got ebikes going 30mph, kids/teens congregating on bikes in balaclavas. Come look for yourself and see if you don't feel intimidated.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:06:49 +0000

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm270ldjl37o

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:58:25 +0000

Those are the types likely to be committing a lot of the crimes. Come to a working class town and see for yourself, or go on any local town Facebook group or council page and look at the comments.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:57:08 +0000

Yes, they actively make public spaces unpleasant and dangerous. Town centres are on their knees as people don't want to go there anymore due to ASB like this.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:55:15 +0000

Not excusing it but it's a large reason to why people skip red lights on rented bikes and electric scooters. It's more of a reason than just doing it because you're not afraid of the law.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:30:59 +0000

People on illegal escooters or illegal electric bikes are already committing crimes, there's rarely a decent reason to be wearing a balaclava in the city.

As I said, machine learning to take all these pointers into perspective.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:25:01 +0000

Hm, would depend if they're on rented or own bikes.

Rented you're charged by the minute so there's a financial incentive even for non-scrotes.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:21:50 +0000

Indeed.

New comment by benbristow in "500k facial scans at UK stations yield no arrests, 1 false positive"

benbristow — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:16:33 +0000

I've had an idea in the back of my head but I'm no businessman so have this one for free.

Build an AI model, train it from the catalogues of JD Sports and Sports Direct (and other brands like Stone Island etc.) and how to detect balaclavas, illegal electric bikes and e-scooters. Have it link to cameras and do a percentage chance using machine learning on chance of crime. Also increase the percentage if a 'wheely' is done (riding only on back wheel).

Would minority report the majority of crime in this country in one fell swoop.

Could call it ScroteScanner.

Some would call it discrimination but the majority of ASB I see around my area are people dressed/using those exact things.

If they start to catch-on (unlikely) then worse case we have a fancier looking society with gangsters in suits again.

New comment by benbristow in "Name Available on Request from Companies House"

benbristow — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:12:09 +0000

I'd hope it's a precaution by the SPaR team over at Companies House.

New comment by benbristow in "Name Available on Request from Companies House"

benbristow — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:01:42 +0000

Check the incorporation PDF for the punchline in the filing history.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/c...