Abuse of power too easy for public bodies

12.00.00am GMT Thu 10th Apr 2008

Commenting on Poole Borough Council's admission that it spied on a family using laws passed to track terrorists to find out if they were lying about living in a school catchment area, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"Using criminal powers to spy on parents is ridiculously over the top. Poole Council officials should lie down in a darkened room until the urge to play James Bond passes.

"These powers are all too easily abused by the 653 public authorities entitled to use them. Their use should be reined back and restricted to important cases only."