Written question asked by Jacqui Lait (Conservative) on Monday, 6 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 October 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 October 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Surveillance: Local Authorities

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on whether local authorities should use directed surveillance powers to monitor dog fouling; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ('RIPA') requires that the use of any covert investigatory techniques must be necessary and proportionate to what the relevant public authority seeks to achieve. It is a matter for each authority to determine what is proportionate in the circumstances. All authorisations must on request be made available for scrutiny to the independent Commissioners established under RIPA. In the case of local authorities' use of directed surveillance, oversight is undertaken by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners.

Secondary information