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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Extent of council spying revealed | Extent of council spying revealed |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Councils in England and Wales have used controversial spying laws 10,000 times in the past five years, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show. | Councils in England and Wales have used controversial spying laws 10,000 times in the past five years, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show. |
| The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) was designed to fight serious crime. | The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) was designed to fight serious crime. |
| But officials have been using it to spy on suspected dog fouling, littering and other minor offences. | But officials have been using it to spy on suspected dog fouling, littering and other minor offences. |
| The government has promised curbs on its use but the Lib Dems warn it could still become a "snoopers' charter". | The government has promised curbs on its use but the Lib Dems warn it could still become a "snoopers' charter". |
| The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reveal for the first time how widespread the use of Ripa is among council officials in England and Wales. | The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, reveal for the first time how widespread the use of Ripa is among council officials in England and Wales. |
| A survey of more than 180 local authorities found: | A survey of more than 180 local authorities found: |
| • 1,615 council staff have the power to authorise the use of Ripa. | • 1,615 council staff have the power to authorise the use of Ripa. |
| • 21% (or 340) of these staff are below senior management grade. | • 21% (or 340) of these staff are below senior management grade. |
| • Ripa powers have been used 10,333 times in the last five years. | • Ripa powers have been used 10,333 times in the last five years. |
| • Just 9% of these authorisations have led to a successful prosecution, caution or fixed-penalty notice | • Just 9% of these authorisations have led to a successful prosecution, caution or fixed-penalty notice |
| The Lib Dems are calling on the government to ensure that Ripa powers are only used where strictly necessary and that their use is sanctioned by magistrates. | The Lib Dems are calling on the government to ensure that Ripa powers are only used where strictly necessary and that their use is sanctioned by magistrates. |
| New guidelines | New guidelines |
| The party's local government spokesman Julia Goldsworthy said: "This government has seen civil liberties as little more than a temporary inconvenience. | The party's local government spokesman Julia Goldsworthy said: "This government has seen civil liberties as little more than a temporary inconvenience. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "Slowly but surely freedoms have been eroded and we're now in a situation where dog fouling is considered sufficient to warrant surveillance by council officials." | "Slowly but surely freedoms have been eroded and we're now in a situation where dog fouling is considered sufficient to warrant surveillance by council officials." |
| Shami Chakrabarti, of civil rights campaign group Liberty, called for tighter restrictions on the use of surveillance powers. | Shami Chakrabarti, of civil rights campaign group Liberty, called for tighter restrictions on the use of surveillance powers. |
| She told BBC News: "The over-use of surveillance is destroying trust in proper law enforcement." | She told BBC News: "The over-use of surveillance is destroying trust in proper law enforcement." |
| Council officials were even using "targeted surveillance," including monitoring phone calls, e-mails text messages and CCTV, to police school catchment areas, she added. | Council officials were even using "targeted surveillance," including monitoring phone calls, e-mails text messages and CCTV, to police school catchment areas, she added. |
| The government is planning to issue new guidelines to councils on the use of Ripa. | The government is planning to issue new guidelines to councils on the use of Ripa. |
| 'Proper use' | 'Proper use' |
| Local government minister John Healey has written to councils to emphasise that the powers are "not appropriate" for tackling offences like littering or dog fouling. | Local government minister John Healey has written to councils to emphasise that the powers are "not appropriate" for tackling offences like littering or dog fouling. |
| The public must have confidence in who has these powers and that they are used in a proportionate and proper way John Healey, local government minister | The public must have confidence in who has these powers and that they are used in a proportionate and proper way John Healey, local government minister |
| "It is right and important that councils have these powers of surveillance," he said, as an effective weapon against rogue traders, fly tippers and loan sharks. | "It is right and important that councils have these powers of surveillance," he said, as an effective weapon against rogue traders, fly tippers and loan sharks. |
| But he added: "The public must have confidence in who has these powers and that they are used in a proportionate and proper way." | But he added: "The public must have confidence in who has these powers and that they are used in a proportionate and proper way." |
| Ministers want applications for the use of Ripa to go to the top of organisations, such as the chief executive of a council rather than the head of trading standards or environmental health. | Ministers want applications for the use of Ripa to go to the top of organisations, such as the chief executive of a council rather than the head of trading standards or environmental health. |
| The Conservatives say they would restrict the use of Ripa powers by local authorities only to crimes which could lead to a prison sentence. | The Conservatives say they would restrict the use of Ripa powers by local authorities only to crimes which could lead to a prison sentence. |
| Local councils would also require judicial approval for the use of surveillance powers and council leaders would have to sign off each use of the powers, under Tory proposals. | Local councils would also require judicial approval for the use of surveillance powers and council leaders would have to sign off each use of the powers, under Tory proposals. |
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