Councils spying on residents and staff to investigate criminal activity
SECRET spying powers including undercover filming are being used by the region's councils to snoop on residents – and even their own staff.
New figures show authorities in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire have invoked controversial surveillance powers more than 100 times in just three years.
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They have used the so-called 'snooper's charter' to investigate everything from claims of fly-tipping to reports of their own staff stealing public funds.
Supporters of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) say it is a vital tool for bringing fraudsters to justice.
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But critics claim the powers, which were originally intended to help police and local authorities fight terrorism and investigate serious crime, allow councils to invade privacy.
Now the Government is reining in the scope of the Act by insisting councils seek approval from a magistrate every time they want to use surveillance.
Figures for 2008 to 2011 reveal:
Stoke-on-Trent City Council used surveillance to track residents 77 times as part of investigations into everything from benefit fraud to anti-social behaviour. But the authority refused to reveal if its inquiries led to any prosecutions.
Cheshire East Council used RIPA 14 times since the authority's formation. It secretly filmed traders eight times over claims they were selling alcohol to minors, securing three convictions.
Newcastle Borough Council used surveillance on its own staff seven times and a further seven times to investigate 'licensing contraventions.'
One officer at Newcastle Borough Council was sacked for taking payments but failing to put them into a till, while another resigned for the same offence.
One employee quit the council after being spied on over claims they had been working a second job and using council resources.
Tony Eagles, left, chairman of Knutton Residents' Association, said: "I think in one sense it is a good thing. The question is whether or not the councils are using it on the right people."
Stafford Borough Council used RIPA nine times to investigate fly-tipping – leading to two fines being issued and no convictions.
Staffordshire County Council used surveillance 21 times but claims to have no record of any action its operations led to.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the majority of its uses of the powers relate to gathering evidence for to investigate common types of benefit fraud.
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council said it has not used RIPA in the last three years.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: "It's important the public can have faith that powers are being used only in situations where serious crimes are taking place and when there are no less intrusive alternatives."
A spokesman for anti-serveillance campaigners Big Brother Watch said: "The legislative framework of surveillance does not offer proper safeguards against abuse or transparency."
A spokesman for Newcastle Borough Council said: "The council makes proportionate use of these powers."
COMMENT: PAGE 10
Comments
by gormhenghast
Friday, September 07 2012, 8:43AM
“scfc4whatever, are you in a time warp and you left in the 90`s and just got back and read the story, then knocked out a comment?
"Honestly, is this such a surprise in a socialist country where the government dictates and controls pretty much everything that goes on in society today ? "
Should that not be a Tory nightmare of a place to live? It may be a Socialist enclave in Stoke run for the benefits of its Councillors and officers, would it not be amusing if the Councillors were not followed and filmed, not just when they are at the Civic Centre with their "collective" noses in the trough. Its alright for the likes of Van der Laughing Stock, he loves being filmed, so does said wifey, one step from mankind and straight into voyeurism, "wife swapping indeed, what next d*gging up Westport?
We have nothing to fear? What twit raised that comment? Still with all this in mind some kindly souls out here in observer land dwell in the misconception that we are in some way reassured by all this intrusion on the pretext that its good, safe and normal. One only has to look at where the current paranoia of the State and local government in keeping the populace subdued and docile is not working, Northern Ireland, they tried to put up CCTV and it got removed, they had helicopters all day, armed posts etc. After they realised that the power really did lie with the wants and needs of the population they backed off, still though who is really free in that place, and under the pretext that we are all potential terrorists we are judged as threats too.
politics eh!! tut, tut.......................”
by Robnoxious
Thursday, September 06 2012, 9:42PM
“Addicts are you brave enough ? Go to teeside.”
by WilkesyJ
Thursday, September 06 2012, 5:50AM
“SCFC4EVA..what those famous Tory socialists? What on earth are you on about?”
by Robnoxious
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 10:01PM
“3 toilets for sale- This looks the best place for a sale. comes with no hidden extras.CCTV being one.But if you should have 9 eyes you already have all round vision.But as is shown here, knowledge does not come with it.So with all the crraapp you so called know all intelligent people you try to have us believe.Shoot Up or **** Up, stand in the toilet and pull the chain and hopefully you won't contaminate anything on the way But all the same i would love to take a video,is that OK ?”
by Robnoxious
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 6:20PM
“Sticks and stones,you must be related, red arrows and all that.Hurt feelings, i must go to AandE”
by Speccy9eyes
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 4:47PM
“Robnoxious, you're wrong sunshine, so shut it.”
by Redtone
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 11:42PM
“Genius!”
by Robnoxious
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 11:24PM
“Harplands Website as i thought./carer slapped ? -Quote-End the red arrows-I'm sick of morons telling me i'm wrong without actually telling me i'm wrong.Thank god i'm talking garbage,any takers?”
by Redtone
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 10:09PM
“Tabazan, it was Robnoxious - easy enough mistake to make marra, it's usually fissionchips talking garbage on here!”
by Tabazan
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 9:13PM
“@Johntoe
You said;
"The old "if you're doing nothing wrong" 'argument' which, to some people, might be all very well, Except personally I would prefer NOT to have every minute aspect of my life monitored, recorded, and stored, just in case I 'might' do something wrong, intentionally or accidentally at some point in the future,"
And let's not forget Johntoe, that even with all this surveillance, the Police and intelligence services have STILL managed to get things wrong. Perhaps people like fissionchips who argue the point about 'having nothing to fear if you've done nothing wrong' would like to debate that issue with the family of Jean Charles de Menezes?”