Big Brother Watch reports to become Government policy?

Of course, since our creation around 12 months ago we have campaigned for the scrapping of ID cards and ContactPoint (two pledges that the Government has so far honoured); and we are but one organisation in a field of several fine campaigning groups who are having real influence on Coalition policy.

But, of the five major reports we have produced to date, at least three have been specifically aimed at protecting yourselves and your homes from council officers and government inspectors.

In focussing on the dizzying number of powers of entry provided to town hall bureaucrats (our Barging In report is available here), the proliferation of microchips being placed in our rubbish bins (our Lifting the Lid report is available here) and the gross exploitation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (The Grim RIPA report is available here) - we were hoping to push those in power into making the right decision and scale back (and in, some cases, remove) the enormous ease that the state had to snoop, stalk and intrude on our privacy.

So, the article entitled 'Tories call time on town hall snoops' which appeared in the Sunday Times yesterday, comes as an enormous vindication of our hard work and your support:

(you will forgive me for printing a substantial section of the article as it is currently hidden behind a paywall)

Town Hall snoopers who use anti-terrorist legislation to spy on law-abiding local residents are to have their surveillance powers removed in a rollingback of the Big Brother state. Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government, has accused the previous Labour government of creating "a modern day Stasi" and said he was putting an end to the abuse of civil liberties by officials.

The minister also plans to stop council officials using spy satellite images to monitor home improvements when assessing properties for council tax. He also intends to curb the powers of council tax valuers to enter people's homes.

A "Freedom Bill" being drafted by civil servants will also prevent local government snoopers from going through bins to check whether households have disposed of their rubbish properly.

Ministers are also considering stopping councils from using microchips on bins to monitor the amount of rubbish people throw away.

"It used to be the case that an Englishman's home was his castle - but no longer. Our new coalition will stand up for the privacy and liberty of lawabiding citizens. We are calling time on this modern-day Stasi."

Under the reform proposals, councils will be banned from using the Ripa surveillance powers except to tackle serious criminal offences that would lead to a custodial sentence, if the person was convicted. The coalition government will also require a magistrate to authorise use of the act to provide another check on abuse.

The Labour government created more than 500 new powers allowing officials, including bailiffs, to enter people's homes. Pickles is planning to scrap a law introduced by Labour that allows bailiffs to force entry into houses to collect civil debts.

One government source said: "A series of policy measures are under active consideration. Big Brother snoopers will be curtailed."

Big Brother Watch exists to expose the worst excesses of our surveillance state and through media, on-the-ground and online campaigning; lobby and, where necessary, shame decision-makers into rolling-back the intrusive powers they would otherwise cling to.

Of course, we are not planning the victory parade yet, and will have to wait and see how this promised "Freedom Bill" arrives, but the early announcements are very promising and we want to thank you for all your support in helping us to bring these issues to the fore.

By Dylan Sharpe

Comments

[Mike Cunningham]

As with all things pronounced by politicians of any hue, the proof would appear to be in the pudding.
Yes, leaked reports of plans to withdraw or limit spying or home invasions are good, but we must ask why these laws were actually abused in the way they were? They were drafted as loosely as possible, so nosey-parkers can say 'they are only doing their jobs'! Laws for 'terror' scrutiny used for school place surveillance!
Remember what we go the last time a particular politician stated "Trust me"?

[Purlieu]

Indeed, still waiting fot the "Great Repeal Bill"