Spy tactics are tackling anti-social behaviour, says Poole council (From Bournemouth Echo)

Spy tactics are tackling anti-social behaviour, says Poole council

7:10am Monday 29th June 2009 in

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THE council that scandalised the nation by spying on a family over a school place, has used the controversial RIPA powers three times in the last six months.

Borough of Poole, which last year made national headlines when it admitted watching a family it suspected of abusing the system, decided last October not to do it again.

However the public outcry did not stop the council using the powers and a report now goes to cabinet every six months on the council’s use of surveillance.

Two of the three authorisations granted this year were to gather evidence of alleged anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, intimidation and harassment against vulnerable tenants in council properties.

The third related to noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour caused by delivery drivers at commercial premises outside normal working hours.

“At the time of this report, none of these authorisations have resulted in prosecution action, but they do relate to potentially serious criminal matters,” said Tim Martin, head of legal services in his report.

“In the case of the housing matters, evidence has been recorded through the use of fixed CCTV cameras, and in the case of the commercial premises application, noise recording equipment has been used.”

The borough has repeatedly defended its use of RIPA and says it is committed to using it in a “reasonable and proportionate manner”.

Cllr Brian Leverett, council leader said: “It is important that residents should have confidence in the use of surveillance by their local councils.

“We listened to public concerns about the use of RIPA laws and decided last year that they should not be used for school admissions.

“This report shows that the council’s use of such methods is extremely limited and is undertaken in an effort to investigate serious issues such as anti-social behaviour.”

Councillors will next week consider a response to a Home Office consultation paper on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

The government is keen to crack down on the use of surveillance for “trivial purposes” such as investigating dog fouling.