Government ramps up powers

The government plans to “crack down on fraud” by introducing new legislation. That’s the justification for a fraud bill making its way through parliament.

Amongst other measures are powers effectively to spy on customers’ private bank accounts.

This is about fraud against public authorities. Middle ranking civil servants will be able, without a court order or even ministerial approval, to request personal information from banks about someone’s account.

‘Reasonable belief’

All that is required is a “reasonable belief” that monies are owed to the government, even if as a result of an official error. And then monies can be extracted and accounts frozen.

Banks will not even have to inform customers that their accounts have been accessed. The Department of Work and Pensions already has powers to look at benefits claimants’ accounts, but this legislation would dramatically increase the scope of such activity.

Unprecedented

The bill is attracting concern and criticism for the unprecedented powers it contains. It is presently under consideration by the House of Lords. But even if it is eventually amended, this proposed law provides an insight in what Labour perceives as strength.

Governments seeking such prying powers may wish to appear authoritative, but they are simply being authoritarian.