Kirklees Council says it uses spy camera powers responsibly

Apr 18 2009 By Barry Gibson

KIRKLEES Council has assured residents they aren’t being spied on for trivial matters.

Yesterday the Home Secretary ordered a review of council surveillance powers.

Some local authorities film secretly to expose crimes such as rogue trading and fly-tipping.

However, some have used surveillance to catch people committing less serious offences such as dog fouling.

A Kirklees Council spokesman claimed yesterday that the council used its powers responsibly.

He said: “The cameras managed by our Highways and Transportation Service are not used for offences such as dog fouling as these are considered minor.

“If the offence later escalated – for example if the dog fouling was a frequent occurrence and becoming serious – the CCTV team may look into this as part of their investigation.”