East Lancs councils defend 'snooping' powers
EAST Lancashire councils have defended their use of "snooping" policies after calls were made for a crackdown on how surveillance is used.
The Local Government Association yesterday wrote to every council in England stating that surveillance powers granted under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) should never be used for trivial matters such as littering or dog fouling.
They allow the authority to monitor phone records and record people on video and, are intended to be used to convict criminals and prevent serious crime.
But in East Lancashire council officers have secretly recorded dog-walkers to crack down on dog fouling and hid outside the town hall to check staff aren't sneaking out of work early.
Chairman of the Local Government Association, Sir Simon Milton said in his letter to the council officials: "My purpose in writing is to ask that you satisfy yourself that the use of these powers is only being authorised after the most careful consideration at the appropriate senior political and mana-gerial level."
But Linda Comstive, the director of legal services for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We have very strict guidelines in place and only use it very sparingly and only when it is justified.
"For example, we have used it to detect benefit fraud and rogue traders.
"We were inspected by the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner last week and he has praised our approach".
Mick Cartledge, Burnley Council's Director of Comm-unity Services, said: "Burnley Council will look at these comments; however, we do try as much as possible to have a commonsense approach to CCTV." "
Ribble Valley Borough Council's director of resources, Marshal Scott, added: "We take these matters seriously and recently discussed our surveillance powers with the Information Commissioner's Office.
"We intend looking at our policy on the use of surveillance, with a view to changing it if necessary."
The Freedom of Information Act request found that Blackburn with Darwen Council used the powers 24 times in 2007/08, Burnley made 30 applications and Hyndburn Council used the powers 189 times since 2001.
Pendle Council, Rossendale Council and Hyndburn Council did not respond before the Lancashire Telegraph went to press.
10:48am Tuesday 24th June 2008
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CommentPosted by: Political Observer, Pendle on 12:00pm Tue 24 Jun 08
The issue is not whether councils' have strict guidelines concerning the use of these powers but one of liberty and of citizens being free to go about their lawful business without intrusion or survellance from the state.
Local councils are fast becoming like state police with powers that would not be out of place under a totalitarian regime. In Liverpool the city council (which I believe is run by the Liberal Democrats) has intercepted e-mails from an elected rerpresentative and trawled their mobile telephone records.
Last night I sent an e-mail to a freind and ended it:
'For anyone from Pendle Council reading this e-mail I wish you all the best'.
Citizens must henceforth adopt a mode of working that assumes the state is interecepting their e-mails and telehone calls unless they evidence to the contrary.
The issue is not whether councils' have strict guidelines concerning the use of these powers but one of liberty and of citizens being free to go about their lawful business without intrusion or survellance from the state.
Local councils are fast becoming like state police with powers that would not be out of place under a totalitarian regime. In Liverpool the city council (which I believe is run by the Liberal Democrats) has intercepted e-mails from an elected rerpresentative and trawled their mobile telephone records.
Last night I sent an e-mail to a freind and ended it:
'For anyone from Pendle Council reading this e-mail I wish you all the best'.
Citizens must henceforth adopt a mode of working that assumes the state is interecepting their e-mails and telehone calls unless they evidence to the contrary.
Posted by: Mr Disillusioned, Blackburn on 12:16pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Protect my liberty? Do you live in an are with a high percentage of scrote bags? Bring on the CCTV - when all the culprits are dealt with and gone, there would be no need for it?
Protect my liberty? Do you live in an are with a high percentage of scrote bags? Bring on the CCTV - when all the culprits are dealt with and gone, there would be no need for it?
Posted by: observer, Hyndburn on 12:16pm Tue 24 Jun 08
RIPA was enacted to counter terrorism and serious organised crime. Not to observe dog poo!(social problem though it is)
Now Supreme Leader of the Politburo, Brown, wants 42 days to examine the dog poo!!!!!
RIPA was enacted to counter terrorism and serious organised crime. Not to observe dog poo!(social problem though it is)
Now Supreme Leader of the Politburo, Brown, wants 42 days to examine the dog poo!!!!!
Posted by: anna astley, darwen on 3:17pm Tue 24 Jun 08
Just who do the council think they are? These new cctv's which have popped up everywhere are supposed 2 b tackling crime?? Who do they think they are fooling?? So why are they facing down on the roads (eg burnley rd, blackburn) ?? They should be watchin over troubled estates & teenage drinkin areas if they really were for crime. Give us some credit guys!!!!
Just who do the council think they are? These new cctv's which have popped up everywhere are supposed 2 b tackling crime?? Who do they think they are fooling?? So why are they facing down on the roads (eg burnley rd, blackburn) ?? They should be watchin over troubled estates & teenage drinkin areas if they really were for crime. Give us some credit guys!!!!
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