THE school spying scandal in Poole that shocked the nation should never happen again under new measures to severely restrict council powers.

Controversial surveillance carried out by councils using RIPA – the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act – has been included in a lengthy review of counter terrorism measures.

Now home secretary Theresa May has announced the government will stop local authorities from snooping on residents unless it is to prevent serious crime and has been authorised by a magistrate.

In 2008, the Daily Echo revealed Borough of Poole had spied on Jenny Paton and her family over three weeks over concerns about whether her daughter was entitled to a place at a popular school.

In August last year, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled that the council’s surveillance of the mum-of-three and her family was unlawful.

At the time Jenny told the Daily Echo she hoped the coalition government would seize the initiative and stop councils using RIPA to spy.

The Borough of Poole also admitted using the powers to monitor noise at a takeaway, fishermen suspected of illegally selling shellfish, under age alcohol sales and minor vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Tim Martin, head of legal and democratic services at the Borough of Poole, said: “We welcome the announcement and support any measures that help to ensure the appropriate use of RIPA legislation by public agencies.

“It is important that councils are able to take enforcement action on those issues that local residents say are important to them. However it is essential that the public has confidence in the appropriate use of such powers.

“Overall, the use of RIPA in Poole has been extremely limited. The council listened to public concerns on this issue and decided it would no longer use the legislation in school admission cases.”

Liberty, which took up the case of Jenny Paton and her partner, Tim Joyce, welcomed the safeguards.