Councils surveillance report

A study has found ten local councils in London have employed private firms to undertake surveillance in the last two years.

London councils pay for private investigators

Civil liberties and privacy campaigners say that more than £3.9 million has been spent by public bodies across the country in the last two years on paying private investigators for surveillance work - including snooping on their own staff.

Security camera
The findings of the study were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Credit: Reuters

The Big Brother Watch study found 27 local councils nationally had employed private firms to undertake surveillance - ten of which are in London.

They are:

  • Croydon

  • Enfield

  • Hammersmith & Fulham

  • Harlow

  • Islington

  • Kensington & Chelsea

  • Newham

  • Westminster

  • Camden

  • Merton