Stephen Tall

Lib Dem councillor reveals Lancashire Town hall uses anti-terror laws to snoop on cleaners

By | Thu 18th June 2009 - 7:30 pm

The Mirror reports the news:

Laws designed to fight terrorists and gangsters have been used by a council to spy on its cleaners.

It was revealed yesterday that town hall bosses employed the draconian measures over 500 times, including one occasion to snoop on bus drivers.

Lancashire county council’s tactics were uncovered by Lib Dem Mark Jewell who branded them “an abuse of power.”

Using Freedom of Information, he found out county hall chiefs in Preston ordered surveillance on the cleaners to check if they worked the right hours.

Mr Jewell discovered they frequently used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act between 2001 and 2008. …

A spokesman said the council had been trying to ensure value on contracts. He added: “We don’t do inquiries for trivial matters.” But Mr Jewell was furious. He said: “It says something when they spy on their own people.” …

Lord Carlile QC, who reviews anti-terror laws, warned yesterday that police who use force or threats to make photographers delete pictures of officers could face prosecution.

Lib Dem Voice has been tracking for some time now the ways in which RIPA laws are being used by authorities to keep tabs on citizens well beyond the intention of the act – you can view the archive of stories here.

Read more by or more about or .
This entry was posted in Big mad database, LDV campaigns and News.
Advert

4 Comments

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Michael BG
    Katharine Pindar, re your post of 5th Sept 6.37pm The Institute for Public Policy Research in August, as one of three suggestions for tax changes, proposed t...
  • Callum Robertson
    Councillors, officers and civic society have put thousands upon thousands of hours into planning for LGR. Unitary councils make logical sense and extra laye...
  • Roger Shelley
    Speaking from an area which is particularly tough for Liberal Democrats to gain traction (the East Midlands), the district and borough council seats have been f...
  • Michal Simon
    Apparently, a "stupid lower-class man" isn’t quite deserving of the empathy of an enlightened liberals. A Nigerian girl simply makes a much better poster. ...
  • Chris Bertram
    Fair point re our influence in district and borough councils, but you must admit that we haven't done too badly in the higher-level county councils and some if ...