Surveillance of school applicants

What is this country coming to? It's hard to open the newspapers these days without reading that some ancient liberty has been infringed by the government, and today's no exception:

A council yesterday admitted using laws designed to track serious criminals to spy on a family for nearly three weeks to find out if they were lying about living in a school catchment area.

And is the government outraged?

The Home Office said the RIPA legislation did not appear to have been used inappropriately.

Dear God, is it time to get out? 

Update:

I wondered why so many blogs are silent on this issue (libertarians apart). Ah, I see. Labour legislation, used by Conservative council. That would explain it. 

Comments

[Jon Gregory]

Once laws are in place they will be used by any of our rulers for their convenience. Most legislation is not scrutinised by MPs (most of whom seem to be lawyers).