Now there are 1,000 laws that will let the state into your home

[WhiteFeather]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...tate-home.html

Now there are 1,000 laws that will let the state into your home

The march of the Big Brother state under Labour was highlighted last night as it was revealed that there are now 1,043 laws that give the authorities the power to enter a home or business.

Nearly half have been introduced since Labour came to power 11 years ago. They include the right to:

• Invade your home to see if your pot plants have pests or do not have a 'plant passport' (Plant Health England Order 2005).

• Survey your home and garden to see if your hedge is too high (Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003).

• Check that accommodation given to asylum seekers is not being lived in by non-asylum seekers (Immigration and Asylum Act 1999).

• Raid a house to check if unlicensed gambling is taking place (Gambling Act 2005 Inspection Regulations 2007).

• Seize fridges without the correct energy rating (Energy Information Household Refrigerators and Freezers Regulations 2004).

The rise in clipboard-wielding state inspectors flies in the face of repeated pledges by Ministers to curb the power of bureaucrats.

The full extent of the state's 'powers of entry' is revealed in documents slipped out quietly by the Government last week.

The information was posted on the Home Office website, but in a highly unusual move, the computer file was locked to prevent it being copied or printed. A secret Home Office password was required to access the file.

A Home Office spokeswoman denied the restrictions were an attempt to stop the state's powers being circulated more widely.

She claimed it was a 'mistake' and the file would be unlocked tomorrow.

Some 420 new powers of entry are the product of laws introduced since 1997. A further 16 are in laws due to be approved by Parliament in the next few weeks.

A recent study by the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank warned that the 'proliferation and variety' of such laws mean householders can no longer 'realistically be aware' of their rights and legal obligations.

Gordon Brown last year announced a review of 'powers of entry' laws and said they would be subjected to a 'liberty test' to stop abuses by the state.

However, new powers set to be approved by Parliament include inspecting for non-human genetic material, for looted cultural property from Iraq and for 'undeclared' carbon dioxide, as well as enforcing bin tax.

Town hall 'bin police' already have the right to enter homes, take photographs, seize contents of bins, and 'investigate as required'.

Householders can be fined up to £5,000 if they refuse entry or 'obstruct' an official.

Shadow Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: 'Day by day under Labour, the rights and liberties of law-abiding citizens are being eroded.'

This is a United Kingdom problem for now, but don't worry it coming across the pond soon.

OFF of this link it listing of the laws of the land that makes it legal,
and people still wonder why the UK was disarmed .

Here is the full, astonishing list of laws that give the authorities the power to enter a home or business.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ther-laws.html

[mojo]

Man I hope this stuff can't "swim"

[JCWohlschlag]

However, new powers set to be approved by Parliament include inspecting for non-human genetic material, for looted cultural property from Iraq and for 'undeclared' carbon dioxide, as well as enforcing bin tax.

Uh… what the hell?!

[sutehk]

Man this sounds like the new form of communist opression! I am so glad that I live in the good ol' U S of A.

[Pennywise]

• Invade your home to see if your pot plants have pests or do not have a 'plant passport'

Wow, So they can have pot plants as long as the plant has a passport?

[pex]

• Invade your home to see if your pot plants have pests or do not have a 'plant passport'

Wow, So they can have pot plants as long as the plant has a passport?

No. This is like tax evasion for folks engaged in criminal activities that generate income.

[moose]

Does that actually mean "pot" though? I read that to be like a potted plant?!

[PhilA]

This is exactly why we left 300 years ago.

[Philbert]

The expansion of government power is not just a problem for the UK.

THE EXPANSION OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW: LSU law professor John Baker has recently published a report documenting the continued expansion of federal criminal law for the Heritage Foundation. As Baker points out, there are now some 4500 different federal crimes, with the number growing consistently at a rate of about 50 new federal crimes every year for the last several decades. This expansion has continued apace under both Republican and Democratic-controlled congresses.

Source.

[4XLT]

just something else to re-confirm our freedom here in America !!!