A mother-of-three has begun her legal battle against the use of controversial powers to "spy" on her family. Skip related content
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Mother's challenge over council 'spying'
Jenny Paton is accusing Poole Borough Council of playing "fast and loose" in its attempts to establish whether her children live in the correct school catchment area.
Her complaint surrounds the use of the controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa).
Speaking at the landmark Investigatory Powers Tribunal hearing, Ms Paton, 40, said: "Some of the operational aspects are ludicrous and completely outrageous and, I think, we all need protecting from the way local authorities are using Ripa. This is about saying 'no more' - let's have more safeguards and better scrutiny."
It is alleged a council official made notes documenting the comings and goings of the mother-of-three and her partner for nearly three weeks to find out if the family lived at an address in Dorset.
Ms Paton questioned why officials did not simply knock on the door and speak to her if they doubted her story.
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