Tue, 09 Sep 2008

The most expensive country to police in the world

Key findings of the independent think tank Reform in The lawful society report:

The Telegraph reveals that councils are recruiting, and paying, informers to snoop on their neighbours:

The youngsters are among almost 5,000 residents who in some cases are being offered £500 rewards if they provide evidence of minor infractions.

One in six councils contacted by the Telegraph said they had signed up teams of "environment volunteers" who are being encouraged to photograph or video neighbours guilty of dog fouling, littering or "bin crimes".

The "covert human intelligence sources", as some local authorities describe them, are also being asked to pass on the names of neighbours they believe to be responsible, or take down their number-plates.

(Henri Porter's latest column, Our obsession with crime is crushing our freedoms, comments on these news tidbits.)

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