‘Covid cops’ to be granted spy powers to snoop on families at Christmas by councils
‘COVID cops’ with special spy powers have been hired by councils to snoop on Brits and ensure they are obeying lockdown and the rule of six.
The enforcement officers – some on salaries of more than £34,000 – have been given special powers by authorities to conduct operations “covertly or overtly”.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
They will be given body-cams and other spying equipment to collect information on rule breakers and will also wear plainclothes on undercover stings, the Metro reports.
The new force is expected to be tougher than the marshals – nicknamed ‘covid wombles’ by police officers – who check up on pubs and restaurants and dish out fines if social distancing rules are being broken.
This is because they actually have the power to investigate alleged breaches, rather than just hand out a telling off.
COVERT-19
It comes as Brits are nervous their Christmases could be ruined after a police chief warned cops will barge into homes and break up family gatherings if lockdown rules are broken.
David Jamieson, the West Midlands police and crime commissioner said: “If we think there’s large groups of people gathering where they shouldn’t be, then police will have to intervene.
“If, again, there’s flagrant breaking of the rules, then the police would have to enforce.”
But his claim has since been blasted as unlawful by human rights lawyers.
Privacy campaigners say that the new Covid cops are the “worst possible approach” councils could take.
Councils should focus their resources on supporting people affected by the crisis, not treating them like potential criminals.
Madeleine Stone
Madeleine Stone, Legal and Policy Officer at Big Brother Watch said: “Hiring undercover officers to enforce guidance that has no legal basis is heavy-handed.
“Councils should focus their resources on supporting people affected by the crisis, not treating them like potential criminals.
“Spying on their residents is the worst possible approach local authorities could take and will only erode the public’s trust in them.”
Brent Council has five vacancies for roles in its regulatory services department based in Wembley, north London.
Pay is listed as £34,418 per annum and the applicant is described as someone who has “knowledge of law enforcement” and “investigative abilities”.
COVID COPS
The advert reads: “The role will offer advice and support to the public and business owners, respond to and investigate complaints regarding compliance with guidelines and regulations, carry out spot checks and, where necessary, take appropriate enforcement action to ensure adherence with Covid 19 controls.”
Officers will be tasked with executing “routine or unplanned visits and inspections, covertly or overtly as required, to ensure compliance with current guidance and/or legislation”.
The introduction reads: “The threats posed by Covid 19 are rapidly changing so the ability to learn new regulations, interpret guidance and provide an immediate public response is essential to this role.”
More than half of the country is now living under some form of lockdown.
16 new areas were announced to go into Tier 2 by the weekend – including Luton, Yorkshire & the Humber, Oxford and parts of the East and West Midlands.
And West Yorkshire will go into the highest level of restrictions come Monday.
Ilford, in east London, is another authority that has taken action and already has its Covid enforcement officers pounding the beat.
Earlier this month officers slapped a burger restaurant with a £1,000 fine for serving food four minutes after the 10pm curfew.
While Redbridge Council’s Covid cops, also in east London, have a range of powers under law.
Most read in News
They wear a council uniform and hi-vis body armed decked out with body-cams and radios as well as taking part in plain-clothes stings.
Cllr Promise Knight, Brent Council’s cabinet member for community safety and engagement, said: “The public in Brent are clear that where safety is put at risk in our borough, which was so badly hit in the first wave, they want their council to take action which is exactly what we are doing.”
A spokesman for Redbridge Council said it was not recruiting officers and its staff were not undercover.