Stop using laws to spy on public, councils told

By Kate Kelland

LONDON (Reuters) - On the surface, it was a mildly amusing tale about a man and his dog.

However, for many people the news last week that a man faced a 1,000-pound fine after his dog was captured on camera fouling the pavement was an example of how a society gripped by fear of crime and terrorism is taking spying to new levels.

Campaigning against the 4.2 million closed circuit television CCTV.L cameras throughout Britain, which can capture images of each citizen up to 300 times a day, is traditionally the battleground of human rights and civil liberties activists.

Their ranks have been swollen in recent months by support from less predictable quarters -- including members of the Labour Party and right-of-centre politicians more usually associated with a firm hand on law and order.

Now, concern about abuse of high-level surveillance to spy on people for offences such as littering and dog fouling has prompted the man in charge of local councils to issue a warning: stop snooping, or risk a public backlash against the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act RIPA.L which allows such measures.

"Save in the most unusual and extreme of circumstances, it is inappropriate to use these powers for trivial matters," Sir Simon Milton wrote in a letter to council leaders on Monday. "By their nature, surveillance powers are never to be used lightly."

BLURRED PHOTOS

Councils have used surveillance to catch defecating dogs, to enforce parking rules and to track parents to ensure they do not bend residency rules to get their children into better schools.