Terror law is used to spy on youngsters

[TriWooOx]

Councils are using anti-terrorism surveillance laws to spy on children trying to buy alcohol, it has emerged.

One authority alone has run 70 snooping operations, including tracking youngsters and covertly filming people selling counterfeit DVDs.

It also admitted using the laws to obtain phone records and e-mails of those suspected of what it described as 'petty' offences.

In each case Staffordshire County Council used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act as the legal basis for its actions.

The revelation comes a week after it emerged that another council used the same powers to watch a family to make sure they lived in a school catchment area.

Human rights pressure group Liberty strongly criticised the surveillance.

A spokesperson said: 'Public patience with over-zealous snooping is fast running out. There is no doubt that the loose RIPA laws must be tightened up.'

However, Staffordshire County Council's fraud and community safety manager, Brandon Cooke, defended the operations.

He said: 'People's lives are blighted by anti-social behaviour and criminality which centres around drinking.

'We need these powers to investigate these sales and to prevent the unruly behaviour that can result from them.'

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