Spy planes 'could be considered snooping', group warns

Big Brother Watch warns that spy planes with thermal imaging cameras used by Harrow Borough Council 'could be considered snooping'

11:10am Wednesday 5th March 2014 in News By Anna Slater

Civil liberties campaigners have warned that using spy planes to search for illegal 'beds in sheds' developments could be seen as "over the top".

Harrow Borough Council spent around 20,000 on the aircraft to detect cannabis factories, homes without proper insulation and so-called 'beds in sheds' - garages or other outbuildings used as flats without authorisation.

Thermal images revealed 319 outbuildings could be being rented out illegally, often to "exploited" immigrants paying reduced rent.

But some have voiced fears the authority could have used the aircraft as a means of snooping on its residents.

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Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said the council should be "fully transparent" about such exercises.

He said: "They need to make sure they do not snoop on people who are not under any suspicion of wrongdoing.

"People have no idea what information is being recorded by these spy planes or the legal framework it falls under. This needs to be urgently addressed by Harrow Council.

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Spy planes 'could be considered snooping', group warns