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26-03-2009, 05:56 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164953/Councils-used-anti-terror-powers-10-000-times-spy-petty-offenders--90pc-innocent.html
Councils used anti-terrorism powers 10,000 times to spy on offences from stealing fairy lights to illegal crab selling
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:51 PM on 26th March 2009
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Christmas tree
Snooping: Measures originally designed to tackle terrorism were used to spy on people stealing fairy lights from a Christmas tree
Councils have used surveillance powers designed to fight terrorism more than 10,000 times to spy on everything from fairy lights to illegal crab selling, figures reveal.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act was originally meant for tackling serious crimes.
But details disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act show councils have used it to spy on a range of minor offences including littering and dog fouling.
The Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures, claim Ripa is in danger of becoming a 'snooper's charter' and is yet another erosion of civil liberties.
Since 2004, the legislation has been used 10,288 times but less than one in 10 inquiries led to any form of penalty, according to the data.
The survey of more than 180 local authorities found 1,615 council staff are authorised to use the Act, of whom more than one fifth are below senior management grade.
Alleged offences include littering, illegal street trading, unauthorised internet access by staff and stealing the fairy lights from a Christmas tree.
Officials were also using the laws to monitor phone calls, e-mails and text messages to police school catchment areas, the Liberal Democrats claimed.
More...
* JAMES SLACK: The Town Hall Stasi must be stripped of surveillance powers
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Extrapolating of the figures across all 400 councils in England and Wales would mean some 22,000 spying missions have been conducted since 2004.
Powers to spy on people were first introduced in 2000 but then just nine organisations including police and the security services were allowed to use them.
After the September 11 atacks in the U.S., the law was extended to allow almost 800 bodies to use the powers, including councils.
dog walking in the countryside
Close eye: Councils also used the legislation to monitor dog fouling
Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Julia Goldsworthy said: 'This Government sees civil liberties as little more than a temporary inconvenience. Slowly but surely, freedoms have been eroded.
'We're now in a situation where dog fouling is considered enough to warrant surveillance by council officials.
'Unless Ripa is reformed, it risks becoming a snoopers' charter. Surveillance powers should only be used to investigate serious crimes and must require a magistrate's warrant.'
Shami Chakrabarti from civil rights group Liberty added: 'The over-use of surveillance is destroying trust in proper law enforcement' and called for tighter restrictions.
The Government has already issued new guidance on Ripa's use and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said last year it should not be used to spy for minor offences.
Ms Smith wants applications to use the powers to be limited to the top of organisations, such as the chief executive of a council.
A spokesman said: 'The Government does not want to see Ripa powers being used to target people for putting their bins out on the wrong day or for dog fouling offences.
'Whilst many of the investigations that are carried out under Ripa are important - like protecting the public from dodgy traders, trapping fly tippers who dump tonnes of rubbish on an industrial scale across the countryside, or tackling the misery caused by noisy and disruptive neighbours - there are clearly cases where these powers should not be used.'
The Conservatives say they would restrict use of the Act to crimes that could lead to a prison sentence.
Local councils would also need the approval of a magistrate to use the legislation and council leaders would have to sign off each time under the Opposition's proposals.
Councils used anti-terrorism powers 10,000 times to spy on offences from stealing fairy lights to illegal crab selling
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:51 PM on 26th March 2009
* Comments (18)
* Add to My Stories
Christmas tree
Snooping: Measures originally designed to tackle terrorism were used to spy on people stealing fairy lights from a Christmas tree
Councils have used surveillance powers designed to fight terrorism more than 10,000 times to spy on everything from fairy lights to illegal crab selling, figures reveal.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act was originally meant for tackling serious crimes.
But details disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act show councils have used it to spy on a range of minor offences including littering and dog fouling.
The Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures, claim Ripa is in danger of becoming a 'snooper's charter' and is yet another erosion of civil liberties.
Since 2004, the legislation has been used 10,288 times but less than one in 10 inquiries led to any form of penalty, according to the data.
The survey of more than 180 local authorities found 1,615 council staff are authorised to use the Act, of whom more than one fifth are below senior management grade.
Alleged offences include littering, illegal street trading, unauthorised internet access by staff and stealing the fairy lights from a Christmas tree.
Officials were also using the laws to monitor phone calls, e-mails and text messages to police school catchment areas, the Liberal Democrats claimed.
More...
* JAMES SLACK: The Town Hall Stasi must be stripped of surveillance powers
* How Google invaded Sir Fred's privacy - and could invade yours
Extrapolating of the figures across all 400 councils in England and Wales would mean some 22,000 spying missions have been conducted since 2004.
Powers to spy on people were first introduced in 2000 but then just nine organisations including police and the security services were allowed to use them.
After the September 11 atacks in the U.S., the law was extended to allow almost 800 bodies to use the powers, including councils.
dog walking in the countryside
Close eye: Councils also used the legislation to monitor dog fouling
Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Julia Goldsworthy said: 'This Government sees civil liberties as little more than a temporary inconvenience. Slowly but surely, freedoms have been eroded.
'We're now in a situation where dog fouling is considered enough to warrant surveillance by council officials.
'Unless Ripa is reformed, it risks becoming a snoopers' charter. Surveillance powers should only be used to investigate serious crimes and must require a magistrate's warrant.'
Shami Chakrabarti from civil rights group Liberty added: 'The over-use of surveillance is destroying trust in proper law enforcement' and called for tighter restrictions.
The Government has already issued new guidance on Ripa's use and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said last year it should not be used to spy for minor offences.
Ms Smith wants applications to use the powers to be limited to the top of organisations, such as the chief executive of a council.
A spokesman said: 'The Government does not want to see Ripa powers being used to target people for putting their bins out on the wrong day or for dog fouling offences.
'Whilst many of the investigations that are carried out under Ripa are important - like protecting the public from dodgy traders, trapping fly tippers who dump tonnes of rubbish on an industrial scale across the countryside, or tackling the misery caused by noisy and disruptive neighbours - there are clearly cases where these powers should not be used.'
The Conservatives say they would restrict use of the Act to crimes that could lead to a prison sentence.
Local councils would also need the approval of a magistrate to use the legislation and council leaders would have to sign off each time under the Opposition's proposals.