UK: Government to review anti-terror law used by Croydon Council
Croydon Guardian >> 22nd April 2009
Controversial anti-terror laws, used by local councils to snoop on residents, are to be reformed under new government guidelines.
Earlier this month the Croydon Guardian reported how the Council had used Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) to snoop on residents.
Surveillance designed to thwart terrorist bombings is being used to snoop on benefit fraudsters, noisy neighbours, drug dealers, fly-tippers, racists and rogue traders.
Now, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, has announced plans to limit the uses in which local councils can use the act.
From August 2007 until January 2009 the act was used 77 times in Croydon – with a 10-fold increase in its use in the last 12 months.