Is Britain raising a new StaSi?

[Skybird]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/12/nspy112.xml

If this is true I would say it has now reached a truly threatening dimension.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=DBT2PBWB443KPQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQ YIV0?xml=/news/2008/01/29/ntap129.xml

[Sonarman]

They'd be a lot better spending their money on providing more doggy bins there simply are not enough (at least in my area).I think most people would be happy to use them if they were there but resent having to walk miles with a stinking bag of dog mess.

[3Jane]

People are quick enough to bleat and cry when they say local authorities are not doing anything about poisonous illegal dumping, criminal families, vandalism etc etc

[Skybird]

The way to hell is paved with good intentions.

[STEED]

More than 1,000 covert surveillance operations are being launched every month to investigate petty offences such as dog fouling, under-age smoking and breaches of planning regulations.


What a laugh. :rotfl:

Just goes to show I am spot on about these nutters. :D :know:

Vote your sitting councilor's out in May. :ping:

[jumpy]

Local councils have ever been a pain in the backside when it comes to interfering with residents; be it with issues like planning permission for extensions, residents parking schemes, or deciding how many rubbish collections are to be made. It's only a natural extension for them to expand their snooping in this manner.
Some of the 'offences' documented over the years that have wasted peoples time and money due to over zealous councils with no common sense are par for the course here, though it is disturbing how they seem to be moving to use certain key legislation as described. My thread about Poole council spying on a couple because of school catchment areas being a recent example.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7343445.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7341179.stm

[Trex]

There's a period after the introduction of any new law in which basic questions get asked: "What does it really mean?" and "How do we go about using it?" and "Are there implied limitations?" etc. In this case, Parliament passed a law aimed to counter terrorism and some local soviets have found it convenient to use for their own ends. It is now up to the courts and to Parliament to fine-tune and clarify that law - in this case, can local councils use it for such relatively minor concerns?

Of considerable note is the fact that this issue has become a public one and is being hotly debated across the nation. That would never have happened with something the Stassi were doing. There is hope.

[Tchocky]

I knew something was wrong when they got out the smell jars..

[bradclark1]

There is something wrong when time and money are spent on trivial misdemeanors within an society when there are obviously better thing to do then play at Stalins Cheka (use of everyone as spies). No wonder the UK's police force is migrating to Australia and Canada.

[SUBMAN1]

The way to hell is paved with good intentions.I thought you weren't a religious person?

-S

[SUBMAN1]

As for the article, what are you going to do to stop it? The people have no power there. They are mearly slaves. No ability to stand up and not take it anymore. They are weak.

-S

[Tchocky]

If only there were local elections! Then the people could have their voice heard!

If only there were local elections in the next two weeks! Any later is too late for this PC-ridden, muslim-friendly society!

What? May 1st?

ah, forget it.

The remainder of this post has been edited by a local council employee. Keeping Britain safe since 2007. Rule Britannia, Britannia waives the rules

[clive bradbury]

Well, although traditionally I am no great supporter of the activities of local authorities, I happen to be totally in favour of the trend under discussion. Many of you seem to be viewing this as something sinister - I think it it high time something was done about the so-called 'trivial' offences mentioned in the article.

I wonder how trivial you would think fly-tippers are if they dumped rubbish outside your house? Or if your neighbour built an illegal extension to their house - ruining your view or reducing your access to light? Why shouldn't dog owners be responsible, especially given the diseases and parasites in dog faeces?

Many of you seem to be keen on personal freedom - how about the freedom to live in a clean environment? Keep up the good work, local authorities - make sure that people who care little for others obey the laws that have been introduced for everyone's protection.

[jumpy]

As for the article, what are you going to do to stop it? The people have no power there. They are mearly slaves. No ability to stand up and not take it anymore. They are weak.
Things work differently over here you know, we're not quite as gauche and brashly graceless as some, preferring to keep our daily lives to ourselves, except in extreme cases when we are slightly miffed.
Looking at it pragmatically, local councils stamping their feet with 'new powers' is nothing new. Most belittle them for it and in severe cases challenge any subsequent rulings without the need to riot and smash up the place much.

Many of you seem to be keen on personal freedom - how about the freedom to live in a clean environment? Keep up the good work, local authorities - make sure that people who care little for others obey the laws that have been introduced for everyone's protection.

You have a point there, but (for myself certainly) I generally treat others and their property, including public property, with respect. Therefore when normal decent people fall foul of stupid councils and their bludgeoning ways, it's no surprise we complain when treated like the criminals we so obviously are not.

[August]

I would never want to live in a place where i'd have to pick up my dogs crap.

[clive bradbury]

I would never want to live in a place where I would have to clear up someone else's dog's crap...

[Konovalov]

I would never want to live in a place where I would have to clear up someone else's dog's crap...
Exactly. :yep:

[STEED]

I got a great view of my neighbor's garden sky high in dog sh*t. :nope:

[August]

City folks are funny! :yep:

[clive bradbury]

City folks are funny! :yep:

I wouldn't know - I live in a quiet country village myself.

[XabbaRus]

About the schools thing. I agree the wrong approach was used but with many people buying second houses just to get into a school I can see why it was done. Again heel and good intentions.

I blame the whole school choice thing. Too much choice. You are in a catchment area, you go to that school end of. It is up to the government to make sure the schools are good. Infact with all the people who can afford to go to the good schols teh bad ones sink lower. I you had a decent spread amongs the schools it might be found that the worse schools start to perform better. Who knows.

[FIREWALL]

I knew something was wrong when they got out the smell jars..


OK... I admit Ionly read the first page of this topic but,

WHAT THE HELL IS A SMELL JAR ? And do I really want to know ? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[August]

City folks are funny! :yep:
I wouldn't know - I live in a quiet country village myself.

I'm not sure if what you call country is the same thing over here. There are places on my property up in Maine that i'm quite sure haven't felt the tread of a human being in well over a hundred years.

[clive bradbury]

City folks are funny! :yep:
I wouldn't know - I live in a quiet country village myself.

I'm not sure if what you call country is the same thing over here. There are places on my property up in Maine that i'm quite sure haven't felt the tread of a human being in well over a hundred years.

Relevance to the topic under discussion escapes me, I'm afraid.

[August]

Relevance to the topic under discussion escapes me, I'm afraid.


To recap:

The British government spys on it's citizens to see if they pick up their dogs poop. Being required to pick up dog poop is a peculiarity of urban life. Quiet English country villages must be somewhat urban (by US standards) if they also force dog owners to police up their animals poop. Seems clear to me. ;)

[clive bradbury]

Indeed, which is precisely why legislation, and methods of enforcing it, are required to ensure a certain quality of life for the majority.