Keeping tabs on the criminals

State bodies have been allowed to snoop on suspected criminals since 2009, but a lack of resources has held them back from more cases, writes Conor Ryan

BORN amid controversy regarding its threat to civil liberties, the extent to which the State has authorised snooping of its citizens has been restrained more by cost than conscience.

Since it has been enacted, the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009 has helped to build cases against criminals with sophisticated plans to compromise the State’s security or execute substantial smuggling operations.