A REPORT has criticised Bromley Council for “snooping” on charity shops to catch people fly-tipping.

The council installed cameras at Harris HospisCare in Queensway, Petts Wood and the Last Chance Animal Rescue in Chatterton Road, Bromley, after receiving complaints about unsaleable items such as broken furniture, cat litter and nappies being left outside.

According to The Grim RIPA report by Big Brother Watch, Bromley has conducted 150 surveillance operations in the last two years under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

It says only five other local authorities have used the covert surveillance legislation more times than Bromley.

The figures come in the wake of an announcement by the new coalition government to restrict councils exercising the powers, by insisting they are first approved by a magistrate.

Bromley has used the act for offences including anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, bogus builders targeting an elderly couple and the sale of knives to children.

Director of Big Brother Watch Alex Deane said: “The coalition government plan to force councils to get warrants before snooping on us is good, but doesn’t go far enough.

“If the offence is serious enough to merit covert surveillance, then it should be in the hands of the police.”

A council spokesman said: “The decision around the use of these powers is never taken lightly.

“We consider it appropriate to do so where we can protect people in the community and tackle serious anti-social behaviour that is both unpleasant, a blight on people’s lives and would otherwise use taxpayers’, and in this case charity, money to clear up.”

MAGISTRATE'S CONCERNS OVER USE OF RIPA

Councillor Nicholas Bennett, who is also a practising magistrate, says he has concerns over the use of RIPA.

He said: “The question we have to ask is if it's proportionate to use an act for anti-terrorism.

“Is this a proportionate use of public money for what is a minor irritance?

“As magistrates we're used to dealing with legal issues.

“There are a wide range of things that come before us for instance search warrants, we're quite used to making judgements of proportionality and whether it's reasonable or not.”

COUNCILLOR REJECTS CRITICISM

Bromley Council’s executive member for environment Councillor Colin Smith staunchly defends the council’s use of the act.

Cllr Smith said: “The police and council officers deal with complaints day in and day out about thoroughly disgusting socially inadequate individuals fly-tipping waste and preying on weaker, more vulnerable members of our society, normally the elderly, and this technology is key to bringing their worst excesses to heel.

“The RIPA legislation will always be observed in Bromley to the spirit and letter of the law to prevent any so called ‘spying’ taking place on law-abiding individuals going about their daily lives and business.

“Those who have fallen victim to these crimes and other forms of victimisation will understand that attempting to capture the events on film to enable prosecutions to follow is a very small price to pay for this minor infringement of the perpetrators so called civil liberties.

"I'm frankly far more concerned about the rights and civil liberties of the victims and wider council tax paying public who are currently having to pick up the tab, than that small minority of low life who treat the rest of us with open contempt."