Not for the first time on this site has our old "friend" The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) appeared with the depressing inevitability of an unloved season.
Recent figures obtained from 400 councils show that thousands of council staff have been authorised to use RIPA, which according to Nanny was meant to be used against terrorists, covertly keep a watch on local voters et al.
Seemingly 20% of those using the powers were below senior management grade, and few of our "respected" and "trusted" local authorities demonstrated that they checked as to whether the powers were being used appropriately.
The figures show that 182 local authorities employed 1,615 staff who had used the powers 10,133 times in the past five years.
Less than 10% of surveillance missions resulted in a prosecution, caution or fixed penalty notice.
The powers were also used on 451 investigations into fly-tipping investigations and on 88 cases of unlawful dog fouling.
Other reasons included "establishing the identities of those taking fairy lights from a Christmas tree", "illegal sale of shellfish" and "unauthorised internet access by staff".
Maybe our own Home Economics Minister (sorry, Home Secretary) would have benefited from her council spying on her husband...thus preventing him from claiming for watching porn, and defrauding the public purse?
The point being that by using these powers for trivia, Nanny and her braindead chums in the local councils are eroding the public's trust in the political system and making a mockery of the legislation intended for the prevention of terrorism.
Visit The Orifice of Government Commerce and buy a collector's item.
Visit The Joy of Lard and indulge your lard fantasies.
Show your contempt for Nanny by buying a T shirt or thong from Nanny's Store.
www.nannyknowsbest.com is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Celebrate the joy of living with champagne. Click and drink!
Why not really indulge yourself, by doing all the things that Nanny really hates? Click on the relevant link to indulge yourselves; Food, Bonking, Toys, Gifts and Flowers, Groceries
Taking 'fairy lights' from a Christmas tree. That is surely a homopohobic hate crime. Wait, a Christmas tree that is erm, erm muslimophobic and should have been termed the winterval tree.
ReplyDeleteMaybe our own Home Economics Minister (sorry, Home Secretary) would have benefited from her council spying on her husband...thus preventing him from claiming for watching porn, and defrauding the public purse?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Jacqui's husband was only surfing on her website!