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RIPA used 10,000 times

http://www.lgcplus.com/News/2009/03/ripa_used_10000_times.html

Surveillance powers risk creating a snoopers charter


Surveillance powers designed to prevent crime and terrorism and have been used by councils more than 10,000 times since 2004.

Research of 180 councils by the Lib Dems has found that powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) were used 10,288 times in the last five years.

According to the study, 1,615 council staff have the power to authorise the use of the RIPA while 21% (340) of these staff are below senior management grade.

Just 9% of these authorisations have led to a successful prosecution, caution or fixed-penalty notice, the Lib Dem's claim.

The party's local government spokesperson Julia Goldsworthy said:

"This Government sees civil liberties as little more than a temporary inconvenience. 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."

Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph claims that there have been 20,000 covert spying missions have been carried out by councils since 2004.

The paper used Freedom of Information legislation and reveals that councils use RIPA powers to check on the stealing of fairy lights, the illegal sales of crabs and whether staff off sick were actually working.

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