§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police forces are regularly using video cameras and records for surreptitious surveillance of suspects; and if he is satisfied that the Home Office guidelines of 1977 are being fully observed;
(2) if he will call for reports from the chief constables of Kent and east Sussex concerning the extent to which their forces are observing the guidelines on use of equipment in police surveillance operations of suspects or situations where crime might occur.
§ Mr. WhitelawAs I announced in February last year the guidelines to police forces on the use of equipment in surveillance operations are currently under review. As part of that review I am considering what information can be made available about the scale and circumstances of the use of particular types of equipment by the police without jeopardising their operational effectiveness. I have no reason to believe that the police do not conscientiously observe the current guidelines.