Public backs use of surveillance

The New Local Government Network (NLGN) survey shows the public supporting some use of spy technology by local authorities - despite many newspaper campaigns against “council snoopers”.

The poll of 300 people showed 64% of people believed it was appropriate for councils to use directed surveillance to tackle drug dealing, whilst 62% felt it was very appropriate for organised crime; 59% for theft and 50% for benefit fraud.

But only 17% of people thought it was appropriate for councils to use the powers set out in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to check residents were not breaking school catchment rules.

Home secretary Jacqui Smith is currently reviewing which organisations should be able to use surveillance.

The NLGN demanded councils should take a common sense approach to surveillance and not to use it for spurious investigations.

Report authors Nick Hope and James Hulme said: “It would be a mistake if all monitoring and surveillance efforts by local authorities were treated as equally ‘sinister’, when many efforts help fight local criminality and have strong public support.

“However, it is clear that a new contract of understanding is required between local authorities and their residents to use the powers proportionately and only on issues that are of a high priority in the local area.”

In response, Hazel Harding (Lab), chair of the Local Government Association safer communities board, said: “Whilst it is a matter for each council to determine for its area, the LGA’s advice is that, save in the most unusual and extreme circumstances, it is inappropriate to use these powers for less serious matters.”

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