Council installs listening device in family home

Mum seeking legal advice after her local council installed a listening device to record whether her children were too noisy.

Hannah Roberts has been told the noise levels of her children are being monitored after a series of complaints.

The mum of 3, believes her human rights have been breached and said ”I admit my children do make a noise, like all youngsters do, and my young son does cry at night because I have to rub cream on him as he suffers from severe eczema. But what has happened to me in recent months has been a nightmare.”

A complaint was subsequently made to social services against Hannah, claiming her children were at risk, which proved unfounded.

Hannah said; ”It was confirmed to me in a meeting that sound monitoring equipment was installed directly above my boy’s bedroom a day prior to me receiving notification. This is contrary to and in direct breach of RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act), and I contend that Cornwall Housing has breached my right to privacy and I intend to take legal advice on both matters.”

“I was outraged at the first mention of Cornwall Housing using terrorist legislation to justify monitoring the noise of my three-year-old and four-year-old children and consider that Cornwall Housing Ltd has acted illegally and in haste, bypassing procedure and safeguards at will. Its attitude has been unbelievable, to the extent that it contacted social services claiming my children were at risk, but the head teacher of their school sent back a glowing report on their welfare to social services.

“It’s all been extremely hurtful. The continuing stress and pressure of trying to achieve the impossible, of stopping children making a noise and being set-up to fail has, and is, having a terrible effect on me.”

A spokesman for Cornwall council said: “While Cornwall Housing is unable to discuss the details of individual cases, our standard practice for gathering evidence after receiving numerous complaints in regards to noise nuisance, and where other avenues may have failed to reach a resolution, is to install a digital recording device into an adjourning property. This recording of evidence is frequently used by ourselves and Cornwall Council Environmental Health. The recordings are not covert as the tenants are made aware that noise monitoring is taking place. Cornwall Housing does not take action against any of our tenants as a result of children crying.”

Should councils be allowed to use sound equipment like this or do you agree with Hannah, they have breached her rights?

Story and photo from The Sun.