Originally posted on
The MJ
Covert intelligence gathering by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was ‘unauthorised’, according to a watchdog’s report.
Covert intelligence gathering by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was ‘unauthorised’, according to a watchdog’s report.
The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) looked into the use of ‘covert human intelligence sources’ by the department as it pursued firms that had failed to act on remediation of unsafe cladding following the Grenfell Tower fire.
On two occasions, between October and November 2022 and April and May 2023, MHCLG enlisted external contractors, which used ‘intermediaries’ with a network of ‘sub-sources’ with knowledge of the residential leasehold industry to gather information using a false cover story.
Only the contractors knew they were ultimately working for MHCLG.
Read the full story on The MJ
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