In his classic novel, 1984, George Orwell imagined how Britain might one day become a totalitarian surveillance state. Yet as Orwell's novel celebrates its 75th anniversary this month, British police are already deploying technologies that would put Big Brother to shame. From the facial recognition cameras watching you shop to the algorithms predicting crimes before they happen, these tools feel as if they've been ripped from the pages of science fiction. But there is nothing fictional about the AI cops already patrolling Britain's streets - and experts say there is only more to come. Jake Hufurt, head of research and investigations at Big Brother Watch, warned MailOnline: 'We're sleepwalking into a high-tech police state.'

It might look like nothing more than a camera on a stick, but this AI traffic cop could help to crack down on bad drivers. Today, Safer Roads Humber will deploy an AI-powered mobile camera to catch drivers on their phones and not wearing seatbelts. The camera, operated by Australian road safety company Acusensus, will be on the roads of East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire for a week. This is the second time the AI camera has been deployed in the area as part of a UK-wide trial conducted by National Highways. Ian Robertson, from the Safer Roads Humber partnership, says: 'This state-of-the-art equipment increases our enforcement capability.'

Roadside litter injures, traps or kills 10 animals every day, the RSPCA has revealed. The animal charity has warned that over the last three years, they received more than 10,000 reports of animals becoming distressed or even killed by discarded rubbish. It comes as separate research by National Highways reveals almost half of people are unaware that fruit peel and apple cores - which lure wildlife to their death - count as litter. A survey of 2,000 people also revealed that a third wrongly believe that dropping organic waste is beneficial to wildlife. While more than 90 per cent said they had never discarded litter onto the roadside, over 60 per cent said they had seen someone else doing it.

A van with technology that can automatically detect drivers holding a mobile phone at the wheel or not wearing a seatbelt is being trialled in the UK for the first time. National Highways are working with Warwickshire police to try out the "sensor test vehicle" on motorways and major A roads, and drivers who are caught may be prosecuted. The initial three-month trial will determine how the technology can be further deployed in future. Insp Jem Mountford, of Warwickshire police, said: "We are really excited to see the impact that this new technology has on the behaviour of drivers in Warwickshire. "During the trial the most serious breaches may be prosecuted, with others receiving warning letters, giving us the opportunity to explain how they have been caught and asking them to change their behaviour.