Ministers were attacked by their own surveillance watchdog last night
for wanting to make it easier for public bodies to spy on the public.
Sir Christopher Rose, Chief Surveillance Commissioner, also revealed
Government organisations were using tracking devices and private investigators
to snoop on residents.
And he warned that councils are still using covert tactics to check
on suspected minor offenders, despite being banned by law from doing
so.
Sir Christopher revealed the extent of the use by police and other
public bodies of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa)
in his annual report.
In the past year, councils and government workers such as benefits
officials were given 9,894 approvals to carry out direct surveillance
on the public, up from 9,535 a year earlier.
