Councillors give verdict on spies (From Bournemouth Echo)

Councillors give verdict on spies

7:00am Saturday 12th April 2008

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POOLE'S education cabinet portfolio holder has accused his own council of being heavy handed in its use of surveillance tactics.

"I don't agree with using terrorist laws for this kind of thing," said Cllr Tony Woodcock, who is away from Poole at a university reunion and has missed the outcry.

"I think we have always done some kind of surveillance to check up and make sure people are within a catchment area.

"It is a bit unfair and I don't think we should allow people to get into schools on misinformation.

"There is a balance. I have to deal with a system I don't agree with.

"That's the system we are working with. But that's what we have to deal with and make it as fair as possible," he said.

Cllr Mike Brooke, Liberal Democrat group leader and education spokesman said he had not known such tactics were employed by the council and would be demanding answers.

"Is this sort of espionage the actual answer to dealing with what is a recognised problem?" he asked.

He acknowledged there was a problem with popular Poole schools which were oversubscribed.

"It is difficult and other parents probably lose out as a result of cheating," he said.

"It is cheating. It's certainly not terrorism.

"It really is Big Brother in 1984 mode," he said.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne has called for council powers to be reduced in the light of the borough's use of them.

"Using criminal powers to spy on parents is ridiculously over the top.

"Poole council officials should lie down in a darkened room until the urge to play James Bond passes.

"These powers are all too easily abused by the 653 public authorities entitled to use them.

"Their use should definitely be reined back and restricted to the most important cases only," he said.

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