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Surveillance use
is appropriate
A review of Liverpool City
Council staff who look at social network sites for enforcement
purposes has found they are doing so properly.
The review was carried out following a recommendation by the Office
of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) after their last inspection in
February 2011.
Now a report to the Audit and Accounts Committee says
"Preliminary findings (of the review) are that the officers using
this medium for enforcement purposes are aware of how they should
conduct themselves and use social networking sites appropriately."
Councillor Liam Robinson, Chair of the Committee, said:- "We
are aware that there is concern about official bodies carrying out
any form of surveillance. But we have stringent policies which are
constantly reviewed to take account of new developments including
the growth in social networks, such as Facebook, and changes in
legislation. What our policy makes clear is that we do not have a
Snoopers Charter and there are clear instructions on what
authorisations are needed before officers use these sites for
potential enforcement purposes. Generally, with all forms of
surveillance we have to balance civil liberties considerations
against the gathering of evidence in areas, such as shops selling
drinks to underage teenagers, where there is a lot of public
concern. The record demonstrates quite clearly that we only
use surveillance when there is justification for it, often resulting
in convictions, and that we are abiding by the regulations relating
to it."
The committee report is part of a regular review of the use of
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and an annual review
of the overall policy which recommends making only minor changes. In
their last report on the council the OSC, noted "There is a
continuing commitment to compliance with RIPA and a desire to
improve standards."
In the last year the council has used surveillance under RIPA on 28
occasions including:-
► An exercise about the sale of knives to underage people
► An exercise about the sale of fireworks to minors
► Hot take-away food traders selling outside their permitted hours and
causing nuisance to residents
► Several Instances relating to the sale of counterfeit tobacco
products
► Sales of alcohol or tobacco to underage teenagers.
"These are examples of where it is very appropriate to use
surveillance in areas where it is the only realistic way of gaining
evidence. Often it is not appreciated that convictions result
because this work has been undertaken." said Councillor Robinson.
Among the convictions in the last year were those of 2 men who were
convicted of selling more than half a million pounds worth of fake
DVDs, CDs and computer games and a man who received a suspended
prison sentence and was banned from the City's markets for selling
counterfeit cigarettes.
Formby St Luke's and RNLI
A Lifeboat Day is being held in the Lifeboat
Tea Room of St Luke's Church in Formby, between 2pm and 4pm, on
Saturday, 28 July 2012. The well travelled, and much admired, The
Liverpool Shanty Kings will be making nautical music and the highly
talented Formby Puppet Ministry will be performing during the
afternoon. There will be Fun and Games for children along with
complimentary refreshments (donations to the RNLI will be much
appreciated). The Royal National Lifeboat Institute will be showing
videos and displays about their wonderful work in saving lives at
sea. |
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IT'S A MARTIN'S MERE WALK TO GOOD
FOOD IN WEST LANCASHIRE!
ON the 18 August 12 people are invited to set
off along the footpaths and lanes of West Lancashire in search of
award winning locally produced food and drink. "West
Lancashire's Best" is the 6th event by Footloose Food Walks,
a new company based in Manchester, that take the hassle out of
discovering and meeting the most interesting local food producers
passionate about what they do. They arrange tastings and behind the
scenes tours, provide tasty lunches of the local produce, all linked
by a gentle and relaxed guided walk.
West Lancashire is a hidden gem but few outside the area know it.
"West Lancashire's Best" will offer food enthusiasts the
chance to meet, find out about and sample from the long established
as well as the latest local artisanal food producers to be found
there. Starting from the village of Burscough, they'll meet the
bakers at the Lancashire Bread House; they'll then follow the Leeds
Liverpool canal to The Farm at Martin Mere for a tour and lunch of
farm made seasonal products. A walk on farm lanes and footpaths
after lunch will take them to The Hop Vine and Burscough Brewery, at
Burscough Bridge, for a tasting of the craft beers made on the
premises. The walk is along easy paths and lanes through delightful
countryside.
Footloose Food Walks offer luxury days out walking to people who
love good food and are excited about locally produced food and
drink. Their day, weekend or short breaks to meet selected local
small-scale producers are all inclusive. Enjoy special behind the
scenes tours not normally open to the public, tastings, delicious
locally sourced meals and a guided walk. Just book and take part.
They look after the rest. "All our events are informal
and friendly. We walk in small groups on gentle paths and lanes to
meet and sample from the small local producers we've hand picked. In
between we sit down to a fabulous lunch of the locally made food and
drink. We think it is a great chance not only to walk and exercise.
taste great food but also to meet the people that produce it."
said Heidi Schaefer co-director of Footloose Food Walks. |
