daftandbarmy
Army.ca Dinosaur
- Reaction score
- 26,456
- Points
- 1,160
Child spies used only when very necessary, says Downing Street
Downing Street has defended the use of child spies by British police and intelligence agencies in operations against terrorists, gangs and drug dealers, saying this happened very rarely and only when it was considered vital to do so.
The comments by Theresa May’s spokeswoman came after a House of Lords committee revealed the practice and also raised the alarm that the government planned to give law enforcement bodies more freedom over the use of children.
Some of the child spies are under 16, the committee said, adding that it was worried about proposals to extend from one month to four the period of time between each occasion child spies go through a reregistration process.
Asked about the committee’s concerns, May’s spokeswoman said: “Juvenile covert human intelligence sources are used very rarely, and they’re only used when it is very necessary and proportionate, for example helping to prevent gang violence, drug dealing and the ‘county lines’ phenomenon. The use is governed by a very strict legal framework.”
The secondary legislation scrutiny committee, which is chaired by Lord Trefgarne, a former minister in the Thatcher government, raised the matter in a report.
“We are concerned that enabling a young person to participate in covert activity associated with serious crime for an extended period of time may increase the risks to their mental and physical welfare,” it said.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/20/child-spies-used-only-when-very-necessary-says-downing-street
Downing Street has defended the use of child spies by British police and intelligence agencies in operations against terrorists, gangs and drug dealers, saying this happened very rarely and only when it was considered vital to do so.
The comments by Theresa May’s spokeswoman came after a House of Lords committee revealed the practice and also raised the alarm that the government planned to give law enforcement bodies more freedom over the use of children.
Some of the child spies are under 16, the committee said, adding that it was worried about proposals to extend from one month to four the period of time between each occasion child spies go through a reregistration process.
Asked about the committee’s concerns, May’s spokeswoman said: “Juvenile covert human intelligence sources are used very rarely, and they’re only used when it is very necessary and proportionate, for example helping to prevent gang violence, drug dealing and the ‘county lines’ phenomenon. The use is governed by a very strict legal framework.”
The secondary legislation scrutiny committee, which is chaired by Lord Trefgarne, a former minister in the Thatcher government, raised the matter in a report.
“We are concerned that enabling a young person to participate in covert activity associated with serious crime for an extended period of time may increase the risks to their mental and physical welfare,” it said.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/20/child-spies-used-only-when-very-necessary-says-downing-street
