Issue - decisions

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

17/04/2009 - Use of Powers under the Regulations of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management, presented a report reviewing the Council’s policy and procedures on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (“RIPA”) governing the way in which public bodies use surveillance methods for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or preventing disorder.

 

The Council had to account to the Office of Surveillance Commissioners (“OSC”) on an annual basis on its use of RIPA, and it had been the subject of two inspections by the OSC in July 2003 and July 2007.  The Council’s use of RIPA was also the subject of a recent review by the Internal Audit Section.  One of the recommendations of that review was that the Council’s Policy and Procedures on the use of RIPA be updated.  The Policy was most recently reviewed in 2004.

 

This report and appendices had been considered by the Council’s Standards and Audit and Risk Management Committees and had been revised to reflect discussions at those meetings.

 

This matter was considered by the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (minute 52 – 2/4/09) when it was resolved:-

 

“That Cabinet be requested to consider the findings of the Internal Audit report following on from the findings of the OSC report and their recommendations and findings be pursued and implemented as a matter of urgency.”

 

Resolved –

 

(1) That Cabinet endorse the Policy and Procedure on the use of RIPA, appended to this report.

 

(2) That the decision of the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.