Recycling bin checks hit by Home Office surveillance reforms

The plans come as part of a proposed overhaul of investigatory powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), and would aim to halt the use of surveillance methods for so-called “trivial purposes”, such as investigations into bin collections and dog fouling.

Launching a public consultation on the proposed reforms, the Home Office said that the use of the legislation was intended to insure public safety on matters of serious crime and terrorism, as well as “everyday” problems such as fly-tipping on an industrial scale and rogue traders.

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said: “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,” she added.

In addition to addressing bin collections the use of covert methods to tackle recycling contamination would no longer be sanctioned under the RIPA regulations.

Disproportionate

A spokesman for the Home Office told letsrecycle.com: “It would be a disproportionate use of RIPA. This reform is designed to stop people spying on people's bins as it is a disproportionate and so an issue like this could be dealt with in an overt manner.”

“People putting non-recyclable materials into a recycling bin, as annoying and frustrating as that is, is not a serious crime and it will be classed as a trivial matter,” he added.

The Home Office consultation includes details about all the public bodies and local authorities able to use certain techniques under RIPA, including the ranks at which those techniques can be authorised and the purposes for which they can be used.

Citing recent public concerns, the government said it is particularly interested in public views on the way local authorities use techniques under RIPA and how they should deal with crimes such as rogue trading or fly-tipping on an industrial scale.

Responding to the launch of the consultation, councillor Hazel Harding, chair of the Local Government Association's safer communities board, said: “The Local Government Association wrote to every council in England last year urging them to undertake an urgent review of their use of powers under RIPA.”

“Since that time councils have been reviewing how they use these powers, discussing with local politicians what they should be used for and training staff to make sure that they're used appropriately,” she added.