OXON: Changes will be brought in to the county council’s “spy” powers from November.

Councillors heard yesterday that powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) will be curtailed.

RIPA allows councils to carry out surveillance on subjects, including suspected rogue traders.

But under the new Protection of Freedoms Act, which comes into force in November, any surveillance would need to be approved at a magistrates’ court.