Issue - items at meetings - Surveillance Policy – annual report on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)         That Cabinet approves the continued use of covert surveillance and the accessing of communications data as an enforcement tool to prevent and detect all crime and disorder investigated by its officers, providing the necessity and proportionality rules are stringently applied.

(2)         That Cabinet approves the amendments to the Policy and Procedures in line with the recommendations made by the Surveillance Commissioner.

118.1                The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment informing Members of the activities that have been undertaken utilising the powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and updating Members on the revisions made to the Council’s policy (for copy see minute book).

118.2                The Chairman stated that it was important for openness & fairness that the Cabinet received regularly report of the use of RIPA powers.

118.3                Councillor Randall added that it was reassuring to see that the powers were only utilised in extreme circumstances.

118.4                RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the continued use of covert surveillance and the accessing of communications data as an enforcement tool to prevent and detect all crime and disorder investigated by its officers, providing the necessity and proportionality rules are stringently applied, be approved.

(2)         That the amendments to the Policy and Procedures in line with the recommendations made by the Surveillance Commissioner be approved.