the diverse usability of anti-terror-laws

Skybird · 09-07-08, 04:39 PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...-children.html

Quote:

An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph found that three quarters of local authorities have used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 over the past year.
The Act gives councils the right to place residents and businesses under surveillance, trace telephone and email accounts and even send staff on undercover missions.
The findings alarmed civil liberties campaigners. Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: "Councils do a grave disservice to professional policing by using serious surveillance against litterbugs instead of terrorists."
The RIPA was introduced to help fight terrorism and crime. But a series of extensions, first authorised by David Blunkett in 2003, mean that Britain's 474 councils can use the law to tackle minor misdemeanours.
Councils are using the Act to tackle dog fouling, the unauthorised sale of pizzas and the abuse of the blue badge scheme for disabled drivers.
(...)
Newcastle City Council used the Act to monitor noise levels from smoking shelters at two different licensed premises. The council has twice used the legislation to monitor noise from a vet’s practice following a complaint about barking.
* Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council used it to deal with 16 complaints about barking dogs.
* Derby Council made sound recordings at a property following a complaint about noisy children.
* Peterborough Council investigated the operation of the blue badge scheme for disabled drivers.
* Poole Council used it to detect illegal fishing in Poole Harbour.
* Basingstoke Council used photographic surveillance against one of its own refuse collectors after allegations he was charging residents for a service that should be free. The operation was dropped when it was decided the allegation was false.
* Aberdeenshire Council admitted using the Scottish version of the Act to request the name and address of a mobile phone user as part of an investigation into offences under the Weights and Measures Act.
* Easington council put a resident’s garden under camera surveillance after a complaint from neighbours about noise.
* Canterbury City Council used CCTV surveillance and an officer’s observations to monitor illegal street trading.
* Brighton and Hove council launched four operations against graffiti artists
* Torbay Council accessed an employee’s emails after an allegation that suspect material had been sent. A second employee was investigated over the “use of council vehicle for personal gain”.
* Westminster City Council covertly filmed a locksmith following allegations of fraud.
* Durham County Council obtained authorisation to monitor car boot sales during an investigation into the sale of counterfeit goods.

Brave new world. Let's fight terror. There can never be enough freedom for surveillance.

No matter your nationality - before you think "those stupoid Brits" you betternthin twice - have you really any reason to assume that in your nation data security and protection against excessive surveillance are handled all that better? I have my doubts.

Happy Times · 09-07-08, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...-children.html

Quote:

An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph found that three quarters of local authorities have used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 over the past year.
The Act gives councils the right to place residents and businesses under surveillance, trace telephone and email accounts and even send staff on undercover missions.
The findings alarmed civil liberties campaigners. Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: "Councils do a grave disservice to professional policing by using serious surveillance against litterbugs instead of terrorists."
The RIPA was introduced to help fight terrorism and crime. But a series of extensions, first authorised by David Blunkett in 2003, mean that Britain's 474 councils can use the law to tackle minor misdemeanours.
Councils are using the Act to tackle dog fouling, the unauthorised sale of pizzas and the abuse of the blue badge scheme for disabled drivers.
(...)
Newcastle City Council used the Act to monitor noise levels from smoking shelters at two different licensed premises. The council has twice used the legislation to monitor noise from a vet’s practice following a complaint about barking.
* Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council used it to deal with 16 complaints about barking dogs.
* Derby Council made sound recordings at a property following a complaint about noisy children.
* Peterborough Council investigated the operation of the blue badge scheme for disabled drivers.
* Poole Council used it to detect illegal fishing in Poole Harbour.
* Basingstoke Council used photographic surveillance against one of its own refuse collectors after allegations he was charging residents for a service that should be free. The operation was dropped when it was decided the allegation was false.
* Aberdeenshire Council admitted using the Scottish version of the Act to request the name and address of a mobile phone user as part of an investigation into offences under the Weights and Measures Act.
* Easington council put a resident’s garden under camera surveillance after a complaint from neighbours about noise.
* Canterbury City Council used CCTV surveillance and an officer’s observations to monitor illegal street trading.
* Brighton and Hove council launched four operations against graffiti artists
* Torbay Council accessed an employee’s emails after an allegation that suspect material had been sent. A second employee was investigated over the “use of council vehicle for personal gain”.
* Westminster City Council covertly filmed a locksmith following allegations of fraud.
* Durham County Council obtained authorisation to monitor car boot sales during an investigation into the sale of counterfeit goods.

Brave new world. Let's fight terror. There can never be enough freedom for surveillance.

No matter your nationality - before you think "those stupoid Brits" you betternthin twice - have you really any reason to assume that in your nation data security and protection against excessive surveillance are handled all that better? I have my doubts.

But these UK laws are in their own class, who the hell wants counties or city councils to have these powers?! Arent these politicians? This wouldnt fly here, these exsamples brake several laws in place here. In here its the Police only, supervised by the courts, that can conduct surveillance. The security police and military intelligence probably monitor fair share of mobile communications and the internet, but thats hardly a danger for anyone not involved in terrorism or espionage.

Frame57 · 09-07-08, 06:35 PM

They only see the shadows on the wall and not the truth...

Jimbuna · 09-08-08, 03:13 AM

There's nothing like fighting crime at the highest level :hmm:

Talk about prioritising threat levels

09-08-08, 03:13 AM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	There's nothing like fighting crime at the highest level :hmm: Talk about prioritising threat levels __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-07-08, 06:35 PM	#3
Frame57 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: 1300 feet on the crapper Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	They only see the shadows on the wall and not the truth...