Ministry Inaction?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 146708

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Birgit" <birgit_ph at h...> wrote:
 
Birgit:
 > One thing I have wondered about is spell detection - the ministry 
> discovers Harry's Patronus use within minutes, but seems unable to 
> detect illegal magic done by Death Eaters - neither the Avada 
> Kedavra, unauthorized Portkey use, or duels going on in graveyards 
> seem to draw any Ministry attention at all. Are known wizard 
> residences and their surrounding areas watched, and the rest of the 
> country isn't? 

Geoff:
Don't forget that Harry was "bounced" after the jelly incident in COS 
and after casting the Patronus in OOTP because he was accused on both 
occasions under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage 
Sorcery. So checks seem to be made on minors but not on adults.
 
Birgit:
> Even if they could find them, I would think the fact that they are 
> not allowed to use Unforgiveables while the Death Eaters have no 
> such compunctions puts them at a distinct disadvantage.

Geoff:
That hasn't always been the case. Sirius told Harry:
"Imagine that Voldemort's powerful now. You don't know who his 
supporters are, you don't know who's working for him and who isn't; 
you know he can control people so that they do terrible things 
without being able to stop themselves. You're scared for yourself  
and your family and your friends. Every week, news comes of more 
deaths, more disappearances, more torturing... the Ministry of 
Magic's in disarray, they don't know what to do, they're trying to 
keep everything hidden from the Muggles but, meanwhile, Muggles are 
dying too. Terror everywhere.. panic... confusion... that's how it 
used to be.

Well, times like those bring out the best in some people and the 
worst in others. Crouch's principles might've been good in the 
beginning - I wouldn't know. He rose quickly through the Ministry and 
he started ordering very harsh measures against Voldemort's 
supporters. The Aurors were given new powers - powers to kill rather 
than capture, for instance. And I wasn't the only one who was handed 
straight to the Dementors without trial. Crouch fought violence with 
violence and authorised the use of the Unforgivable Curses against 
suspects...."
(GOF "Padfoot Returns" p.457 UK edition)

So, do we know whether these powers were rescinded? Or can Aurors 
still use Unforgivables?