As part of the measures to protect the UK proud tradition of individual freedom including from unjustified interference by the State, the government is considerating changes to RIPA . RIPA powers have been criticised as an extension of the "surveillance state"Councils were found to be using them to investigate parents accused of lying about where they live to get their children in to better schools.
BLocal officials have been condemned as "Bin Stasi" for using the powers to target people who put their bins out on the wrong day or let their dogs foul in the street.
Councillors or senior officials might in future be required to approve their use, The Tories have called for the use of the powers to be restricted to offences that carry a prison sentence.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it was right they could be used for combating fly tipping and rogue traders as well as serious crime and terror
She said: "
"The government is responsible for protecting both types of freedom. In order to do this, we must ensure that the police and other public authorities have the powers they need. But we must also ensure that those powers are not used inappropriately or excessively.
"The government has absolutely no interest in spying on law-abiding people going about their everyday lives. I don't want to see these powers being used to target people for putting their bins out on the wrong day or for dog fouling offences.
"I also want to make sure that there is proper oversight of the use of these powers which is why I am considering creating a role for elected councillors in overseeing the way in which local authorities use RIPA techniques."
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