Jenny Paton, a mother of three from Dorset, took her local council to court for snooping on her using surveillance powers designed to combat terrorism. Poole borough council used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa), passed in 2000, to ascertain whether Paton did or did not live in the catchment area for Lilliput first school.
Comment:
Granted some parents are going to great lengths to secure a place in their chosen school but the misuse of survelience by local councils has sent alarm bells ringing.
Ripa is used for bugging, survellience and people who are taught to have terrorist connections. The fact that it is being used on behalf of local authorities to establish if parents are lying on their school admission forms is extremely worrying.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584713/Poole-council-spies-on-family-over-school-claim.html