on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 14:29
The Centre for Policy Studies and Big Brother Watch yesterday co-hosted an event on the accumulation of entry powers by the state.
New research from Big Brother Watch has revealed that there are nearly 15,000 officers in local councils nationwide who can enter private property without requiring a warrant or police officer escort. The report builds on the 2006 Centre for Policy Studies pamphlet Crossing the Threshold by Harry Snook, which detailed the number of ways the State can enter a private home as of right - there were 266 distinct powers of entry then, and 1,043 now.
Our panel of speakers discussed the implications of this for civil liberties and whether action is needed to rebalance power in the relationship between the state and the citizen.
Speakers:
• Dominic Grieve QC MP - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
• Henry Porter - Novelist and Columnist
• Harry Snook - Author, Crossing the Threshold: 266 Ways the State can enter your home
• Alex Deane, Director - Big Brother Watch
In his remarks, Dominic Grieve said that a comprehensive review of all current entry powers will be needed, with the intention of repealing some specific powers that are not necessary.
Further coverage of the event is available here. Read Henry Porter's blog here.