Brits Recruit "Citizen Snoopers"

(London, England) As I recall, neighborhood spy networks were police-state features of life in Stalin's Soviet Union, Hitler's Nazi regime and life under the STASI in communist East Germany. Therefore, the British cannot take credit for creating a new method to eliminate privacy and freedom.

A council is enlisting 2,000 resident spies to report anti-social behaviour by their neighbours, it emerged today.

The recruits, described by town hall chiefs as ‘Neighbourhood Champions’, will pass on evidence of graffiti, fly-tipping, litter and excessive noise.

They could even be trained to report child abuse, domestic violence, racial harassment and other ‘hate crimes’.

The plan is expected to be approved this week by Harrow Council, North-West London.

The borough says the scheme, which has police backing, will increase pride in the community.

I doubt there will be an increase in pride, rather I suggest there will be an increase in distrust, paranoia, secrecy and fear. After all, the town's residents will now have dossiers to document all the spying.

From the dossiers, a logical, historically proven and reasonable expectation is the compilation of lists of neighbors requiring re-education. Notably, Josef Stalin created camps for the re-education of over 20 million people.

I'd suggest the Brits need a new Magna Carta, one which includes a Bill of Rights.