52 surveillance cases last year

Three public bodies used spying powers

Just three public bodies out of 12 applied for permission to spy on people over the past year, it’s been revealed.

Surveillance Commissioner Brendan O’Friel will put his annual report to Tynwald next week.

In it, he says there were 52 applications for surveillance approved during the year, compared to 66 the previous year.

The report also points out the Treasury estimates it saved itself more than £140,000 in fraudulent benefit claims last year using surveillance.