Tougher powers for police

Police Get Bugging Guidelines

The Home Office Minister, Alun Michael, has promised tough safeguards to ensure people's civil rights are protected. But some are not convinced: the Liberal Democrats say they will oppose the guidelines.

The code states that chief police officers will be required, except in urgent cases, to get the prior approval of an independent commissioner if the surveillance involves intrusion into people's homes or into offices or hotel bedrooms.

They will also need agreement if the bugging could affect the confidential relationships between professionals such as lawyers, doctors and their clients, and journalists and their sources.

Use of equipment to be restricted

But it will be left to the police to decide whether it is an urgent case, and whether they have time to consult the commissioner, who will be a retired or serving High Court judge.

The code, which will go out to consultation before Parliament is asked to approve it, is unlikely to satisfy civil liberties groups who fear the safeguards are not sufficient to avoid abuse.

There will be particular concern that even if the commissioner rules that surveillance already carried out should not have been authorised, the evidence gathered may still be used in court.

The Liberal Democrats' Home Affairs Spokesman, Lord Rogers of Quarry Bank, said that the safeguards did not go far enough.

"The appointment of commissioners to vet applications seems certain to be inadequate to cope with the demands of a round the clock police service," he said.

"We believe that bugging itself should be an exceptional act, used only as a last resort and only where prior judicial authorisation has been secured."