A feature of this complex state is its view of the law as a tool. Individuals are expected to comply with the laws, no matter how bad, rushed, complex and incoherent they are. But civil servants have a higher purpose as they view the laws that they draft as rules for the governed, not the governors. It is this stark dichotomy between rulers and ruled that acts as a drip, drip slide to privilege and inequality before the law.
Today, the Office of Surveillance Commissioners has reported that the tactics employed by the Environment Agency are designed to circumvent the law. Moreover, they are extraordinary, using a network of spies to try and detect environmental crimes. They have trespassed on private property, carried out illegal surveillance and abused their powers to track private citizens. This is blandly described as “fundamental flaws” in their operation and a lack of proportionality.
This abuse is based upon the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), a bill rushed through to expand the powers of government to combat terrorism. However, the powers have been used to achieve other goals, such as widening the influence of local government and abusing the original objective of countering potential threats.
The ensuing eight years has led to a change of attitudes and practices in municipalities and quangos. Laws are no longer obeyed, due process is ignored and individual rights are there to be countered, not upheld. Those who undertake these tasks see nothing wrong in breaking the law since they are imbued with a higher purpose: privileging their petty rules at the expense of all our liberties.
No need to see the solution: repeal RIPA.