Daily Express – Curb on Big Brother 'doesn't go far enough'
…But local officials used them at massive cost for dog fouling, checking staff who claim to be sick, and even monitoring the use of disabled parking badges.
Alex Deane, of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: “Unaccountable council officials shouldn’t be able to intrude into our lives as they currently do. Abuse is rampant.”
Daily Telegraph – Child support investigators get new spying powers
…Dylan Sharpe, campaign director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Saying that these new extensions to RIPA will only target benefits cheats and parents that fail to pay child support is all well and good; but given recent experience most people will be waiting for cases that show the powers are being used for other, more nefarious reasons.”
Independent – Town halls set to lose surveillance powers
…Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "Ripa abuse is rampant – from spying on dog walkers to people's dustbins, to parents wanting their children to go to schools in a particular catchment area.
"The bottom line is that Ripa needs massive reform. Unelected and unaccountable council officials shouldn't be able to intrude into our lives as they currently do.."