Council snoops in our homes? Not if retired police officer Danny Higson of Low Moor has anything to do with it.

About two years ago we were informed via the media of the death of a young child at the hands of her parents/guardians. Apparently death had been caused by the persistent neglect and abuse of the child by those who were supposed to care for her.

The subsequent enquiry revealed that, although the child was on the at risk' register, her care worker had been unable to monitor her progress because the child's parents had continually refused to allow the care worker access to their home to see the child. The reasons why are now obvious. Disturbingly, no-one in authority at that time appears to have made sufficient efforts to force the parents to allow access until it was too late and the child died.

Compare this then with recent headlines such as, "Council snoopers to get the right to enter your home". A new army of council inspectors will have the right to enter your home, take photographs, list improvements of any feature which they consider enhances the value of your home - including extensions, double glazing, central heating, parking spaces and, garden huts! Should you refuse or obstruct entry to these officials you will be fined £1,000 if convicted and up to £200 per day thereafter for failing to assist the council officer in assessing your home for council tax.

No doubt you will then be fingerprinted and have your DNA taken and added to the government's database, making criminals of us all.

From where will this new army of officials be recruited? Employment agencies? Will they be thoroughly vetted and by whom?

The thought of having a complete stranger marauding through my home armed with pictures of my private property, locks, bolts and security systems is of concern enough, but the thought of someone who may also be a potential burglar or even a closet pervert going through my grandchildren's bedrooms does not bear thinking about.

This new law, if approved, has already been labelled a "snoopers' charter". It could well become a burglar/pervert charter endorsed by a government who once again have not thought it through.

It has very little to do with council tax assessment and more to do with more government control over our lives. Any proposed tax on my property can be assessed by viewing the outside as it has been in the past. The inside of my home is PRIVATE. It has not grown in size or shape during the lengthy time that I have lived here and any features within my walls are what I deem to be necessary for my lifestyle.

Taking away two fundamental pillars of any democracy - our human rights and our rights to privacy, as enshrined in Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 - infringes my access to those rights, and the government should think again about imposing these Draconian laws upon us Laws such as this and "spies in wheelie bins" do not win elections and should be rejected immediately. No person has the right to enter my home without my permission except in exceptional circumstances or when in possession of a warrant.

That is the law and that is the law which must be upheld. Roll on the next election!