Early day motion 697

COVERT SURVEILLANCE BY LOCAL COUNCILS

• Session: 2010-12
• Date tabled: 08.09.2010
• Primary sponsor: Halfon, Robert
• Sponsors:
  • Bottomley, Peter
  • Hancock, Mike
  • Llwyd, Elfyn
  • Tredinnick, David

That this House is concerned by the moral hazard involved in covert surveillance by local councils; regrets that this was enabled and encouraged by the previous Labour Government's Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; notes that freedom of information requests by the organisation BigBrotherWatch have revealed that in the last two years alone, local councils have carried out over 8,500 separate covert surveillance operations under this legislation, which is equal to over 11 new surveillance operations every day; further notes that the previous Labour Government encouraged this through deliberate policy, and thereby created a culture of surveillance, where an individual's right to privacy was significantly eroded; and therefore welcomes the new Government as it stands firm in restoring Britain's ancient freedoms and civil liberties.