LOCAL authorities in north-east Hampshire have used surveillance powers to spy on people and places 17 times in the past two years, according to new research.

Big Brother Watch – a group that campaigns against what it described as “intrusions on privacy and freedom” – published figures showing that 372 councils across the country have authorised 8,575 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) operations during the period.

The legislation gives authorities the power to carry out surveillance for a number of reasons. They are known as ‘directed surveillance or covert human intelligence source’ operations.

Rushmoor Borough Council used the power eight times between April 2008 and March 2010 to monitor people suspected of committing benefit fraud.

Hart District Council used it nine times, including once to investigate whether a taxi driver was properly licensed.

The figures included prosecutions that arose from evidence obtained by the surveillance, although neither council would specify the number of court cases.

Hart's operations included trying to catch someone who was putting a card skimming device on a cash machine and investigating whether a pub was opening after its licensed hours.

The new coalition government plans to change the law so that the power can only be used to stop serious crime and only when signed off by a magistrate.

Big Brother Watch director Alex Deane said: “Now that the absurd and excessive use of RIPA surveillance has been revealed, these powers have to be taken away from councils.

“The coalition government plan to force councils to get warrants before snooping on us is good but doesn’t go far enough.

“If the offence is serious enough to merit covert surveillance, then it should be in the hands of the police.”

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