Jaywalkers Caught Out in Belfast

Jaywalkers Caught Out in Belfast

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Details

Location

Belfast

Year

1967

Date

Production 20/01/1967

Length

10min 10sec

Audio

mute, sound

Format

16mm

black and white

Source

Digitised as part of the UTV Archive Partnership Project (ITV, Northern Ireland Screen and PRONI)

Courtesy

Department for Communities, ITV, UTV Archive

Rights Holder

ITV

It is illegal to download, copy, print or otherwise utilise in any other form this material, without written consent from the copyright holder.

Description

The dangerous habit of jaywalking was a major problem on Belfast city centre streets in the 60s, as can be seen clearly in this UTV report from 1967. Intrepid roving reporter Charlie Witherspoon can be seen interviewing the jaywalkers in the moment of their law breaking, in each case asking them if they believe in higher fines for the offence before pointing out to them that they themselves have just been guilty of it. As expected, there is a wide range of opinion, ranging from the apologetic to those defending their right to walk across a street whenever they want – and everything in between, including one very fatalistic elderly lady.

The interviews take place first of all at the junction of Donegall Square North and Chichester Street before moving to the junction of Ann Street and Victoria Street. As well as Charlie’s confronting of the jaywalkers themselves, the report is notable for its driving shots through the Cornmarket and Ann Street areas, in an era before the roads there were pedestrianised.

Credits

An Ulster Television Production.
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