Surveillance plan a ‘snoopers’ charter’

The Liberal Democrats Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne, has condemned Conservative Party plans to give the police greater powers to conduct surveillance operations against people suspected of non-terrorist offences.

“In the last few weeks, senior Tories have promised tougher bail conditions, automatic jail for knife carriers and more prisons,” he said. “Now they want automatic police use of covert video and listening devices, regardless of the seriousness of the suspected crime.

“This would turn into as much of a snoopers’ charter as local councils’ surveillance powers for dog mess. We need to roll back the surveillance state, not give it new powers. We should cut paperwork, but not cut checks and balances on state power being used proportionately.”