Fly-tipping yes, dog poo no - Jacqui promises Ripa changes
And takes the under-tens off DNA database
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Much-loved Home Secretary Wacky Jacqui Smith today announced changes to the code of practise which governs use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and promised to remove the under-tens from the DNA database.
Local councils' use of Ripa has caused a media storm this year although the majority of incidents covered still involved the spooks - for whom the laws were written. There were 519,000 requests to telcos and ISPs for information in 2007, up 50 per cent on last year, but only 1,707 of these came from local councils. Councils also follow Ripa regulations when they use covert cameras and private eyes.
Smith said there were clear cases when councils should use powers regulated by Ripa - like fly-tipping, dodgy traders and for "tackling the misery caused by noisy and disruptive neighbours". But she does not think they should be used for dog fouling or "to check whether paper boys are carrying sacks that are too heavy".
So Smith said early next year there will be a review of the Ripa code of practise, a look at which public authorities should be covered by the Act and "raising the bar for how those powers are authorised, and who authorises their use".
The Home Office will also look at regulations governing the DNA database.
The police were told back in July by the Information Tribunal toremove DNA records of innocent people, and those with old convictions for minor crimes from the database.
Last month the House of Lords got in on the act too, demanding the deletion of innocent people's profiles.
Earlier this month the Home Office lost a final appeal at the European Court of Human Rights brought by two innocent men wanting their DNA profiles removed from the database.
Smith will introduce a White Paper in the new year to look at retention policies. She said the police are working to get more convicted offenders onto the database but "the changes will see some people coming off the database".
It currently holds 4.2m people including over 570,000 people never convicted of any crime. The 70 profiles of children under ten years old will be removed, Smith said.
Finally Smith said the use of CCTV has the confidence and support of the British public. She wants more police forces to map locations of private CCTV cameras so they can be easily accessed when investigating a crime.
No word either on Jacqui's planned super database of all UK citizens' comms data.
There is an extract of the speech here. ®
COMMENTS
Bollocks
I was attacked outside my offices by a moron on a bike (he rode the bike into me, when I complained, he threw the bike at me so I caught it and threw it down a hill - long story). The upshot was, the police were involved. As it was outside my offices, I told the police which video cameras covered the scene, even giving them contact details for the dept responsible for the videos. 2 months later, I had a letter from the police saying no cameras covered the area. I still have the CCTV tape which the obviously didn't bother to ask for.
I have such little faith in the police in this country, does anyone really think a CCTV database will improve the police attitude of ignoring anything they can't be bothered to investigate?
I never bothered replying to the letter
wacky jacqui OUT!!!
When will people realise that modern britain is trying to kill us all because the country is full.. when will this government riot in the streets. PS If you are offended by this then leave the country!??
Mirror, mirror, on the wall...
What does this delusional little creature see when she looks in the shaving mirror every morning? The answer is that she doesn't see anything because she shaves in the dark.so that she can avoid having to face up to the reality of what she is confronted with.
Bit like her political philosophy, really, ignore the facts and serve up another helping of lies, delusions and prejudice. Examples follow.
According to the wacky wonder, every day she is besieged by throngs of confused citizens demanding to be issued with ID cards so that they can resolve their personal identity crisis. Nope, you didn't see this on TV, because the bitch is lying.
Same story for CCTV surveillance, same imaginary crowds begging to be watched over 24/7. Didn't happen.
Claims the failure of the London/Glasgow bombing attempts was due to the effectiveness of the security services. No, Jacqui dear, it was 100% due to the incompetence of the murderous fanatics who were eventually detained by the local cops. Lying.
Don't even mention her evidence-free claims that extending detention without charge from 28 to 42 days would enhance our security. Delusional.
There is a serious problem with trafficking eastern European women into this country for prostitution. Jacqui's solution is to ignore the traffickers and criminalise men who avail themselves of the women's services. Prejudice and incompetence.
Then there is the matter of her conviction that she can solve the very real problem of paedophilia by banning certain images from the internet. These claims that two dimensional images of extreme behaviour can turn people into slavering, drooling sex monsters have never been substantiated in any scientific study. The government has already implemented a campaign depicting extreme graphic images of the consequences of smoking on cigarette packages. That did not work, so now they propose to hide the fags under the counter. Will that evidence convince Wacky that images do not change behaviour? Nah.
Finally, I would like to comment on the technical absurdity of her uber database, but I am so busy rolling about on the floor laughing my bollocks off that I just can't be arsed.
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