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Council snoops on families

Spying powers intended for the war on terror are being used to snoop on families suspected of cheating their way into popular schools.

  • By Dominic Hayes
  • Published: 00:14 April 13, 2008
  • Gulf News

London: Spying powers intended for the war on terror are being used to snoop on families suspected of cheating their way into popular schools.

Poole council has admitted that under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act it had put several families suspected of giving false addresses under surveillance and that two offers were withdrawn.

But one innocent family, who spoke out anonymously, were left furious by the "creepy" intrusion. The mother told the Bournemouth Echo that she was shown the surveillance record, listing her movements from February 13 to March 3.

The surveillance team wrote notes such as "female and three children enter target vehicle and drive off", and "curtains open and all lights on in premises".

Anger

The mother told the Bournemouth Echo: "I'm absolutely incensed. To be following us around for nearly three weeks, apart from being very creepy, is a huge infringement of my liberty."

She added: "My daughter is still having trouble sleeping. She's asking if there is a man outside watching us."

The spying took place because the family put their house up for sale but remained living there until the end of January to ensure their youngest daughter qualified for the school. Their daughter was accepted at the school.

Tim Martin, head of Poole's legal and democratic services, said: "The council is keen to ensure that information given by parents is true." The council said it had used the surveillance six times.

- Evening Standard

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