‘Spy on your neighbours’bin crimes’ says council

TOWN Hall bureaucrats were last night accused of creating a “nation of citizen snoopers” by encouraging householders to shop neighbours guilty of “bin crimes”.

A council has been accused of creating a nation of citizen snoopers A council has been accused of creating a “nation of citizen snoopers”

Following the escalation in spying across Britain that saw hundreds of thousands of microchips being hidden inside rubbish containers, one council is now asking locals to spy on each other.

It even supplies the “bin Stasi” with diaries to record alleged wrongdoing – similar to those used to tackle violent antisocial behaviour.

The “environmental crime incident diaries” urge householders to blow the whistle on bin rule-breakers who put collections out early or fail to remove them on time. They are invited to supply photographic evidence.

Residents caught repeatedly leaving a bin out for too long will receive a £100 fixed-penalty notice. If they fail to pay they risk a court appearance and a maximum £1,000 fine.

Last night there were warnings that local authorities nationwide will follow Hull City Council’s lead in signing up neighbourhood spies.

Alex Deane, of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “Cash-strapped councils are increasingly recruiting residents to do their dirty work, creating a nation of citizen snoopers.

“Hull council has taken the lead by forming a bin Stasi, creating a scheme whereby people are encouraged to in­form on others. It is creepy and extreme – totally disproportionate.”

The council’s letter to householders says: “If left on the highway, wheelie bins can cause an obstruction to those with disabilities and damage vehicles parked nearby.

“Everyone plays a crucial role in tackling environmental crime.”

Resident Chris Shaw, 37, protested: ‘That’s what the Hitler Youth were told to do – inform on everybody. I won’t be filling in their crime sheets or reporting anybody.”

Claire Smith, 35, added: “I was taken aback when I received the letter from the council asking me to spy on my neighbours. I would never do this and do not like the idea of my neighbours spying on me.”

Mark Cornall, Hull’s environmental crime unit manager, said: “We treat all concerns raised seriously. The first stage of all our investigations is to establish the exact nature of the problem and obtain evidence that may support any potential action.”

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