Secret video surveillance snares fly-tippers

A report in a national newspaper claims Rochdale has used powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to track people illegally dumping their rubbish by secret video surveillance more than any other authority in the country to track rubbish offences.

Out of 25 cases in the borough since 2006, 13 were in Rochdale and six in the Pennines, which covers Littleborough, Milnrow and Newhey. The remainder were in Heywood.

The council has withheld further details because of the risk of jeopardising future investigations.

Rochdale was one of 151 councils responding to a Freedom of Information request from the newspaper about local authorities using secret cameras hidden in tin cans, lamp posts and even in the homes of residents to spy on neighbours.

It has defended the use of the powers, saying they are only used to cut down fly-tipping and not to monitor waste collections.

The RIPA was brought in during 2000 to give councils anti-terrorism surveillance powers, but it allows the method to be used to ‘protect public health’ or the ‘economic wellbeing of the UK’.