Terror law used to monitor pub noise

Council officials used anti-terrorism laws to let residents monitor sound levels at a pub.

In what's believed to be a first for a pub, surveillance equipment was given to the residents under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

The Act was passed in 2000, primarily as a counter-terrorism measure, and sets out surveillance powers available to prevent terrorism and crime.

Following the surveillance, the Crown Hotel, on the High Street in Tarporley, Cheshire, was issued with an environmental health notice.

A spokeswoman for Vale Royal Borough Council said: "The notice was issued because loud musical entertainment was being played until after midnight.

"A number of complaints have been received and investigated. The complainants recorded evidence on monitoring equipment, which had previously been provided to them, and this has resulted in the service of the abatement notice.

"The notice requests the venue to stop causing a statutory noise nuisance and the council will continue to monitor the situation."

She added that a previous notice was issued in 2007 for noise after hours in outside areas. "Regarding the 2008 notice, monitoring was carried out using the powers provided by RIPA."

The Morning Advertiser was unable to contact the operator of the pub.

MA legal editor Peter Coulson said: "Although RIPA is principally concerned with anti-terrorist initiatives, there is also provision for local authorities and others to authorise surveillance 'for the purpose of protecting public health', or preventing disorder.

"It is likely that the council used its powers under section 28 of the Act to place monitoring equipment for this purpose. However, environmental health officers do have specific powers to investigate and deal with noise from licensed premises under the Noise Act 1996, which seems the more appropriate action."