Spying council to be investigated – BBC News
“A privacy watchdog is to investigate a council that used powers to spy on people, including a family suspected of lying about where they lived.”
BBC News, 28th May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: investigatory powers
Council accused of foul play to catch guilty dog owners – The Guardian
“Another council has been caught using surveillance laws designed to combat organised criminals – this time to catch dog owners whose pets foul the grass.”
The Guardian, 22nd May 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Big Brother’ database for phones and e-mails – The Times
“A massive government database holding details of every phone call, e-mail and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward by officials.”
The Times, 20th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Anti-terror unit loses surveillance powers to deflect Stockwell criticism – The Times
“Scotland Yard’s anti-terror unit has been stripped of its control over covert surveillance teams in an attempt to ward off further criticism over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 19th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Government orders data retention by ISPs – OUT-LAW.com
“Phone and internet companies will soon be forced to keep logs of internet usage to be made available to the police under a new law announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown this week.”
OUT-LAW.com, 15th May 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Anti-terror law used to snoop on fishermen – Daily Telegraph
“A council which used anti-terrorism powers to check whether a child lived within a school’s catchment area has used the same law to spy on fishermen, it has emerged.”
Daily Telegraph, 14th May 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Police ‘spying’ powers challenged – BBC News
“A legal bid to challenge the power of the police to use surveillance against peaceful protesters has been launched at the High Court.”
BBC News, 1st May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Spy law ‘used in dog fouling war’ – BBC News
“A survey of UK councils has found some are spying on litter louts and people who let dogs foul public places, using laws to track criminals and terrorists.”
BBC News, 27th April 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
BT’s secret Phorm trials open door to corporate eavesdropping – The Register
“The government has refused to investigate BT’s covert wiretapping of thousands of its customers in 2006 and 2007, despite its own expert’s view that without consent Phorm’s advertising targeting technology is a breach of criminal law.”
The Register, 17th April 2008
Source: www.theregister.co.uk
Government already has 42-day detention power, says rebel – The Guardian
“Ministers do not need to extend pre-charge detention to 42 days because they already have the power to almost indefinitely hold suspects who do not reveal what is held on their computers, a rebel Labour MP said today.”
The Guardian, 14th April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Watchdog blocks police bid to cut red tape for surveillance – The Times
“Britain’s surveillance watchdog is blocking proposals by senior police officers to cut through the red tape involved in mounting operations to observe suspected criminals.”
The Times, 14th April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Anti-terror laws used to spy on family – The Independent
“A family who were wrongly suspected of lying on a school application form have discovered that their local council used anti-terrorism surveillance powers to spy on them.”
The Independent, 11th April 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Bugging of MP on prison visit did not break the rules, inquiry finds – The Guardian
“Police officers knew they were covertly bugging conversations between a terror suspect and his MP, but were not breaking any rules when they did so, an official report said yesterday.”
The Guardian, 22nd February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Smith vows to end ‘confusion’ over bugging rules – The Guardian
“The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, today proposed an end to the ‘confusion’ surrounding rules on the surveillance of MPs after it was announced that Labour MP Sadiq Khan was twice bugged while visiting a constituent in prison.”
The Guardian, 21st Febraury 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke ‘blocked Diana Squidgygate tape inquiry’ – Daily Telegraph
“The former home secretary Kenneth Clarke blocked security services from launching investigations into the notorious ‘Squidgygate’ and ‘Camillagate’ tapes because of fears it would damage the reputation of MI5.”
Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Solicitors voice anger over jail buggings – Daily Telegraph
“The law Society has written to Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, to express ‘grave concern’ over allegations that solicitors’ conversations with clients were bugged.”
Daily Telegraph, 13th February 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Bugging policeman faces court over leaks – The Times
“Mark Kearney faces eight charges of misconduct in a public office in allegedly leaking police information to a local newspaper journalist and a private detective.”
The Times, 11th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Bugging of lawyers could overturn convictions – The Guardian
“A legal precedent has established that deliberate bugging of conversations with lawyers constitutes such an affront to the rule of law that trials should be halted and any convictions obtained overturned.”
The Guardian, 11th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Widespread bugging by authorities – The Times
“The inside story of how and why one MP was bugged reveals that eavesdropping by the authorities in Britain is far more widespread than suspected – and that no one is immune.”
The Times, 10th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Yard knew of bugging claims two months ago – The Guardian
“Scotland Yard’s deputy commissioner was told two months ago of allegations that his officers had bugged an MP while he talked to a constituent who was held in prison, the Guardian has learned.”
The Guardian, 8th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
