Dear Mrs. Thompson,

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 3rd November, 2013 and is being dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004. We are therefore required to provide you with a response within 20 working days, which will be on or before 29th November, 2013.

If we require any clarification or further details, we will contact you as soon as possible - if this is the case, then the timescale for response specified above may be subject to change.

In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me, remembering to quote the reference number provided above in any communications.

Yours sincerely

John Tillman
Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data
Adran y Prif Weithredwr
Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Carmarthenshire County Council

Mewnol/Internal: 4127
Allanol/External: 01267 224127

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Dear Ms Thompson,

I refer to your request for information, which was received on 3rd November, 2013 and has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The specific information you requested was as follows:

“Could you please inform me whether, during the last three years;

a) any employees of Carmarthenshire County council have been the subject of covert surveillance, by the authority, either under RIPA powers or otherwise.
b) any Carmarthenshire County councillors have been subject to surveillance as in a)

If the answer is yes to a) or b) or both, please provide;

c) the number of occasions, including dates, when covert surveillance has been used
d) the reasons for covert surveillance
e) the names of any companies used to carry out the covert surveillance
f) the title of the officer or council department which requested the surveillance
g) any reported outcomes. For instance; numbers of successful prosecution, disciplinary action or no further action
h) the total cost of the covert surveillance covered in a) and b)”

In response, we do hold information relevant to your request, which is set out below.

2010 - no surveillance was undertaken of officers or elected members.

2011 - no elected member was subjected to any surveillance.

However, one Council employee was put under surveillance between 21/04/11 and 11/07/11. This arose as a result of an allegation that the employee and their partner were committing benefit fraud. The surveillance was requested by a Benefit Fraud Investigator in the Resources Department. The surveillance was carried out by Council and Department of Work & Pensions staff. No private companies were used. The surveillance resulted in a formal caution being issued.

This cost £107.50.

2012 - no elected member was subjected to any surveillance. One Council employee was put under surveillance between 06/06/12 and 06/09/12, again as a result of an allegation of benefit fraud against the employee and their partner. Surveillance was requested by a Benefit Fraud investigator in the Resources Department and carried out by Council and Department of Work & Pensions staff. No private companies were used. This cost £21.21.

2013 - no surveillance has been undertaken of elected members or staff.

Yours sincerely

John Tillman
Swyddog Gwybodaeth a Diogelu Data
Adran y Prif Weithredwr
Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Information & Data Protection Officer
Chief Executive's Department
Carmarthenshire County Council

Mewnol/Internal: 4127
Allanol/External: 01267 224127

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