Police surveillance

Thomas Ash, 12 September 2009

From the Durham Times, an alarming expansion of police surveillance and a reminder of the power of police forces to introduce far-reaching policies - including those which pose serious civil liberty problems - by themselves and without reference to parliament:

People without criminal convictions could be subject to covert surveillance, under new police tactics revealed this week.

Durham Police has begun applying methods used to contain people found guilty of violent or sexual crimes to individuals not convicted of such offences

The Potentially Dangerous People (PDP) policy, which also involves the Northumbria and Cleveland forces, is a response to Government pressure to stop another case such as that of Ian Huntley.

[...]

People can be declared PDPs following a referral to the Public Protection Unit and a multi-agency meeting to discuss the case.

PDP could be watched or contacted by police about their behaviour.

Since the policy was introduced three months ago, eight people have been referred, with two declared PDP.

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