Issue - meetings

The Committee was provided with an update on the use of the Council’s statutory powers provided for under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000, as amended by the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016.

          The Committee had last received a RIPA update report in May 2020 and this report covered the period from 1 May 2020 to 31 December 2021. No applications had been received in this period in respect of access to communications data or in relation to directed surveillance.

          Although there had not been any applications for the use of the Council’s powers under RIPA since the last members’ report, it had been some time since the Authority’s RIPA Policy had last been approved. Work to refresh the Policy had started in 2020, following the last Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) inspection, but this update was never brought back to members for further approval.

RIPA legislation was supplemented by the Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) Code of Practice which provided detailed, comprehensive guidance and best practice on the use of RIPA powers. The Home Office was due to publish an updated Code of Practice in early 2022 into use of overt investigatory powers and application of RIPA legislation. It was intended that a review of the Council’s RIPA Policy would be undertaken after publication of the revised Home Office guidance. This would be followed by training for appropriate officers, and further awareness work to remind officers about RIPA.

                    RESOLVED that the Committee notes that (1) in the period 1 May 2020 to 31 December 2021 no applications were made under the Council’s powers relating to RIPA;

                    (2) it was intended to review the Council’s RIPA Policy following publication of revised Home Office guidance; and

                    (3) training and awareness activity will be programmed following the RIPA Policy refresh.