WEST Mercia Police has used controversial surveillance powers to spy on people nearly 400 times in just three years, new figures have revealed.

An investigation carried out by Big Brother Watch shows the police force authorised the use of RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) 379 times between 2010 and 2012.

The controversial legislation, introduced to help police fight terrorism, allows officers to carry out ‘non-intrusive’ investigations – such as following a person of interest, or listening in on phone calls – to assist their investigations into a suspected criminal or suspected criminal activity. West Mercia Police says it takes the matter very seriously and only uses the powers when it is strictly necessary.

“We use these powers to combat serious crime and to protect people from harm,” a spokesman said.

“They are heavily regulated both internally and externally by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners.

“They see everything we do to make sure we comply with the law around surveillance. It’s a legal framework we work within.

“These powers are taken very seriously and are used proportionally and necessarily.”

But the Big Brother Watch report claims that despite being non-intrusive, personal information is still likely to be obtained about the individual.

While other local authorities, such as councils, have to gain permission through Magistrates Courts, the police do not require such permission to utilise snooping powers.

As the police force is not compelled to detail exactly how many individuals have been snooped on, only how many RIPA authorisations were made, this figure remains unknown.

Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “The police should not be able to keep the details secret of how and why members of the public are spied on.

“To do so whilst not having to seek a court’s approval to use the powers is simply unacceptable.

“Local authorities now have to justify how they will snoop on members of the public and it is about time that this authorisation procedure became the norm, not the exception.”

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