Britain’s local councils were given permission to conduct surveillance on residents living in their borough to spy on dog-walkers, those feeding pigeons or throwing garbage incorrectly.
The 2,800 covert surveillance operations over five years emerged today as part of a mass freedom of information request by the liberal Democrat party, The Times reports. As many as 186 local authorities used the UK’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to gather evidence via secret listening devices, cameras and private detectives.
Brian Paddick, home affairs spokesman of the liberal Democrats, said, “It is absurd that local authorities are using measures primarily intended for combating terrorism for issues as trivial as a dog barking”. As per some of the details, Wolverhampton council used covert surveillance to check on the sale of dangerous toys; Slough to aid an investigation into an illegal puppy farm; and Westminster in london to crack down on the selling of fireworks to children.