Government will treat elderly 'like criminals' under controversial new bank ... trends now
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Controversial powers to allow the Government to access the public's bank accounts in order to unearth fraud are opposed by a majority of Britons, according to new polling.
Ten million pensioners will be among those whose personal accounts will be secretly scanned to check for welfare fraud under plans that have been described by senior politicians as 'a snoopers' charter'.
A poll by YouGov, commissioned by the campaign group Big Brother Watch, has found that 56 per cent of voters oppose the plans, while 44 per cent regard the infringement of privacy as a fair price to pay for detecting fraud.
The powers have been added to a Data Bill going through Parliament that would legally force banks, building societies and other organisations to secretly scan all bank accounts to look for indicators of welfare fraud and error.
This would include the accounts of those receiving the state pension and welfare payments, such as mothers who receive children's benefits directly.
Nigel Farage has said 'everyone across the political spectrum, Left and Right, should be outraged by this attack on financial privacy'
The powers have been added to a Data Bill going through Parliament that would legally force banks, building societies and other organisations to secretly scan all bank accounts to look for indicators of welfare fraud and error (stock photo)
It would also cover all of the accounts held by landlords who receive their tenants' housing benefit directly.
