Nonetheless, a London-based organization called Big Brother Watch has been campaigning to cut back on the surveillance network.

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Nick Pickles, from campaign group Big Brother Watch, has accused police of "diverting resources" away from current investigations.

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Mr Towler said it demonised and alienated youngsters, while civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch called it draconian.

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"This episode was no accident, " Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch told PA News agency.

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However, Big Brother Watch says some public bodies may be sidestepping that restriction by sub-contracting the work to private security companies.

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Perhaps, suggested Deborah Mattinson and Nick Pickles, of Big Brother Watch, politicians should ask people first before listening in on their online conversations.

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Big Brother Watch said every penny raised that was not spent on Sgt Nightingale's legal fees would go to the SAS Regimental Association.

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Privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch welcomed Mr Clegg's announcement.

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Nick Pickles, from civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said that when children leave home it is not uncommon for them to use their parent's address for their correspondence and bank account details.

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She later told the court that, on the bus to Drimsynie, she heard that "the guy from Big Brother is going" but said that she did not watch the television programme.

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