7:50am Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Controversial anti-terror laws, used by local councils to snoop on residents, are to be reformed under new government guidelines.
Earlier this month the Croydon Guardian reported how the Council had used Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) to snoop on residents.
Surveillance designed to thwart terrorist bombings is being used to snoop on benefit fraudsters, noisy neighbours, drug dealers, fly-tippers, racists and rogue traders.
Now, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, has announced plans to limit the uses in which local councils can use the act.
From August 2007 until January 2009 the act was used 77 times in Croydon – with a 10-fold increase in its use in the last 12 months.
The Ripa was brought in in 2000 to regulate the ways which the Government could spy on suspected terrorists.
It was amended by former Home Secretary Geoff Hoon in 2004 to allow local councils to snoop on their residents Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: “This consultation is a tacit admission by the Government that its surveillance society has got out of hand.
“For too long, powers we were told would be used to fight terrorism and organised crime have been used to spy on people’s kids, pets and bins.
"Without reform, RIPA will continue to be a snoopers’ charter. Surveillance powers should only be used to investigate serious crimes and must require a magistrate’s warrant.
"Ministers must ensure that this consultation results in real changes and not just warm words.”
• What do you think of this surveillance society? Let us know in the comments section below.
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