Council chiefs defend use of spying powers

Council bosses in South Staffordshire have defended their use of controversial surveillance powers after 80 cases led to just a handful of prosecutions.

Local councils can use the powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, or RIPA which allows them to carry out covert surveillance on members of the public without their knowledge. But authorities have been warned the spying activities must be "necessary and proportionate" by the Home Office after concerns from civil liberty groups.

In Cannock Chase during 2008 the council used RIPA powers to investigate three cases of flytipping, two cases of unlicensed taxi drivers and one case of alleged racist behaviour around a taxi rank and one suspected benefit fraud. In each case there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Sandra Richards, spokesman for the council said: "In all of these cases the use of covert surveillance was properly requested and authorised in accordance with legal requirements."

In Lichfield there were also six cases involving dog fouling and flytipping. Two resulted in no action, two are pending court action and two were successfully prosecuted.

In Stafford the council used the powers six times to investigate flytipping with only one flytipper being fined.

Will Conaghan, spokesman for Stafford Borough Council said: "Our use of hidden cameras in targeting flytipping hotspots attracted a lot of publicity locally. As a result reported flytipping has fallen more than 20 per cent year on year."

South Staffordshire Council has used RIPA powers eight times, but only one case has led to court action.

Lin Robinson, monitoring officer a South Staffordshire Council said: "South Staffordshire Council takes its responsibilities for using these powers very seriously and uses them only when it is necessary, proportionate and as a last resort."

Staffordshire County Council used the powers 53 times but prosecuted only two people.