Political survival..... You & Family

[BIAD]

Not to hijack Plotus' thread, but below is relevant under the heading.

Here in the UK, we're still battling the actual Government over protecting our families -and in this particular
case, possibly from members of that same household!!!
(Note: The House of Lords is a place where suggestions are debated before being moved towards the House
of Commons, where it is again debated the voted on.)

Spy Kids: New intelligence law allows CHILDREN to work as secret agents for local councils, anti-fraud bodies
and even the gambling watchdog - and even shop their own parents

*Police and security services among those who will be allowed to use under-18s 
*But many other public bodies are also on the list of those with permission
*They include local councils, Gambling Commission and Food Standards Agency

'Scores of Government bodies, the armed forces and even the gambling regulator will legally be allowed to use child spies
-including against their parents.

Police and the security services are among those who will be allowed to use under-18s as covert human intelligence sources
(CHIS) under 'exceptional circumstances' according to official documents. But guidance for the Covert Intelligence Bill, currently
going through the Lords, outlines other public bodies who will be allowed to employ them as undercover agents.

As well as police, MI5, MI6 and the National Crime Agency, they include the Gambling Commission, county and district councils,
the Environment Agency and the Food Standards Agency.

The document, which has been published online, prohibits those under 16 from being used to inform on their parents or guardians.
But it permits the use of older teenagers to be used against their own family under special circumstances.
'In other cases, authorisations should not be granted unless the special provisions, contained within the Juveniles Order are
satisfied,' it notes.

'A CHIS aged 16 or 17 years old should only be deployed to gather evidence against their parents or any person who has parental
responsibility for them where careful consideration has been given to whether the authorisation is justified in light of that fact.
In such instances the rationale must be documented by the public authority.'

Anne Longfield, the children's commissioner, called for the use of child spies to be banned. 
'I remain to be convinced that there is ever an appropriate situation in which a child should be used as a CHIS,' she told the Telegraph.
'This practice is not in the best interests of the child.'


Anne Longfield, the children's commissioner and Police, MI5, MI6 London headquarters.

The bill has already drawn heavy criticism as it passes through Parliament. In October Security Minister James Brokenshire was
forced to confirm adult undercover agents will not be given a 'licence to kill'. Several MPs raised concerns over the scope of the Bill
and the Government's unwillingness to specify a list of the limits in the legislation, which aims to protect undercover operatives from
prosecution if they are forced to break the law on operations.  

The senior minister assured the House that the bill's powers are contained in the Human Rights Act and include the right to life,
prohibition of torture, and prohibition of subjecting someone to inhuman or degrading treatment.

Today he said: 'Juvenile covert human intelligence sources are used very rarely and only where careful consideration has been given to
the welfare of the child. 'It may be necessary to help remove the child and other young and vulnerable people from the cycle of crime
that they are in. This includes helping to prevent and prosecute gang violence, drug dealing and the 'county lines' phenomenon which
all have a devastating impact on young people and communities.

'Their use is governed by a strict legal framework and is overseen by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner.
We are strengthening the safeguards which apply in the very rare cases that a child is tasked to participate in criminality to ensure
that their best interests are always a primary consideration in the decision making process.'

Keir Starmer [Labour Party Leader] also faced a Labour rebellion after he refused to allow MPs to vote against the law in the Commons.
He ordered his party to abstain instead, sparking the resignations, with 34 Labour MPs in total opposing it at its third reading...'

Archived Source: