FC: U.K. police "anti-terrorism" spy powers extend to minor crimes

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,588958,00.html

   Police get sweeping access to net data
   Blunkett will not limit scope of measure to terrorist cases

   Stuart Millar, technology correspondent
   Wednesday November 7, 2001
   The Guardian

   Sweeping proposals to give law enforcement agencies access to the
   communications records of every UK telephone and internet user will
   not be restricted to anti-terrorist investigations, despite assurances
   to the contrary from the home secretary.
   
   The Guardian has established that the detailed communications data to
   be retained as part of the government's response to the September 11
   attacks will be available to police investigating minor crimes. It
   will also be available for tax collection and public health and safety
   purposes.
   
   Home Office officials involved in implementing the proposals in a
   voluntary code of practice with the providers have confirmed there are
   no plans to limit access to cases involving national security.
   
   This directly contradicts what appeared to be an assurance given by
   David Blunkett, the home secretary, two weeks ago in an attempt to
   soothe the fears of civil liberties campaigners about the privacy
   implications of blanket data retention.

   [...]



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