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Councils Recruit Unpaid Volunteers To Spy On Their Neighbors
Several readers have written to tell us that a recent move in the UK has councils relying on info from "Citizen Snoopers" to report the transgressions of their neighbors. Currently only implemented as "environment volunteers" designed to keep watch on things like litter, dog habits, and improper trash sorting, there is a certain amount of trepidation that this could grow into something more sinister. "It will fuel fears that Britain is lurching towards a Big Brother society, following the revelation this week that the Home Office is extending some police powers to council staff and private security guards. Critics said the latest scheme could easily be abused and encourage a culture of bin spies and curtain twitchers. Matthew Elliott, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'Snooping on your neighbors to report recycling infringements sounds like something straight out of the East German Stasi's copybook.'"
They've already given us the Community Support Officer (the plastic police) which is effectively a policeman with limited powers - and crucially a lower salary
Sorry I have to beg to differ, The phrase is Glorified Traffic Warden
Growing things in pots is a transgression in Michigan?
Ehm, if you fail to cut your 'grass' you get a fine, but you're suspicious when you grow pot plants?
I must say I fail to see the logic.....
.sigh
Betray your family and friends. Fabulous prizes to be won! And don't forget to vote fascist for a third glorious decade of total law enforcement.
A lot of people would actually pay for the opportunity to legally harass their neigbours, so I think the councils aren't even close to what they could have done, after all, they'll need a lot of money to staff their soon to be overwhelmed homicide divisions.
I like 'improper copper'.
Errrm.. You mean Land of the Fee.
Camping on quad since 1996.
"Hobby Bobby", although that's more often used for a "Special Constable"
It's so people don't park on their heads.