UK residents can get reward for spying on neighbors

Stasi-style secret police in England? That's what one official calls the newest program. Residents in England can receive upwards of $500 to snoop on their neighbors.

Residents are now being offered up to 500 pounds if they snoop on others. The Taxpayers’ Alliance calls the newest program, “covert human intelligence sources.” If a civilian photographs someone dog fouling, dropping litter or graffiti crime, which results in prosecution, they will receive a cash reward. If the criminal receives a court summons then the snooper will get 100 pounds. A conviction will give the civilian 150 pounds and on a maximum sentence he or she will be given 500 pounds. The newest scheme is strongly opposed by the public who have called this program a waste of public funds. Taxpayers’ Alliance spokesperson Susie Squire said, “People are sick and tired of being spied on by their local councils. There are far more constructive and cost-effective ways to encourage people to obey the law. This initiative is going to cost us dear – in terms of financially and damaging community spirit.” Founder of the Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection, Doretta Cocks, has called this newest civilian snooping similar to East Germany’s Stasi secret police, “I think it’s dreadful for neighbors to spy upon neighbors in that way.” Afzal Akram, a Labor councilor and cabinet member for community safety, told the Daily Express, “If Mrs Jones looks out of her window and sees a white van with the doors open and men dumping a sofa on the street we want her to write down the number plate and tell us. It’s not a snooper’s charter, I think the message is we want our streets clean and we don’t want people coming here and dumping rubbish.” The council further added that the reward is a thank you for community members reporting criminal activities in their streets.