Islington Council releases first surveillance report under new Lib Dem transparency regime

2.35.00pm GMT Tue 3rd Nov 2009

New Lib Dem council leader Terry Stacy brought in sweeping changes to how the council uses and monitors the covert surveillance powers granted by the Labour Government.

Earlier this year, Islington's Liberal Democrat council agreed sweeping changes to how it uses and monitors its powers of covert surveillance. Islington is one of the first councils in the country to introduce regular, public oversight by a council committee on all surveillance operations carried out by the borough under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA). The first of the regular reports to the council's Overview Committee has now been published.

The report reveals that the council had used covert surveillance since April 2009:

• seven times relating to antisocial behaviour

• five for Blue Badge fraud

• once for fly-tipping

• once for Housing Benefits Fraud.

As a result, four cases are being prepared for legal action, two have resulted in warning letters and ASBOs, and seven vehicles impounded for Blue Badge fraud.

Councils around the country have been criticised after it came to light that they had used RIPA for trivial offences, such as checking if parents live in school catchment areas. The Islington Liberal Democrats hope that their new regime of transparency and openness will reassure local residents about the council's powers - and at the same time serve to keep the council honest when it comes to the wide-ranging investigatory powers granted to them by the Labour Government.

Council leader Terry Stacy said:

"Councils across the country have been rightfully condemned for various abuses of their surveillance powers. In Islington we want to reassure the public that they can see what the council is up to on their behalf.

"As a Liberal Democrat, respect for privacy and civil liberties is in my DNA, but now we have this system in place it will be impossible for any administration in Islington - whatever its political colour - to use surveillance without oversight and accountability.

"After a decade of Labour rule the UK finds itself in a shameful position alongside Russia, China, Malaysia and Singapore - classified as endemic surveillance societies by Privacy International. It's time for a change."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne MP commented:

"Until we can change the national law, Islington's checks and balances are a model of how councils can behave responsibly."