Local councils accused of spying on residents’ sex lives
Commentary: Never saw this comin’…Who’s watchin’ the watchers?
Council have been accused of using surveillance powers to pry into residents sex lives.
By James Kirkup
Last Updated: 5:35PM BST 24 Aug 2008
The Conservatives say local government officials are monitoring couples’ sleeping arrangements for council tax purposes.
They have released documents they say shows that councils are invading households’ privacy to check on claims for council tax discounts.
More than 7.5 million people claim a 25 per cent discount on their council tax bill because they live alone
Councils are responsible for verifying that people who claim to live alone really do so.
A “surveillance dossier” used by Rotherham Council and released under freedom of information laws has shown how claims are checked.
The document suggests officials undertake “surveillance” of cars registered to addresses “to substantiate the allegation of living together”.
