The Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) conducts periodic inspections of local authorities use of their powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).  The purpose of these inspections was to examine the Council’s policies, procedures, operations and administration in relation to directed surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) under RIPA. 

The last inspection took place on 21 July 2014 and resulted in one recommendation:  Paragraph 3.30 of the Covert Surveillance and Property Interference Code requires elected members to periodically review the use of RIPA.  The report would enable members to achieve the objective by reviewing any RIPA activity in the preceding period and to consider the revised RIPA policy document in Appendix A of the report which incorporated guidance on use by local authorities of social networking sites.  

A motion was MOVED by Cllr McCheyne and SECONDED by Cllr Rowlands to approve the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED that:

1.    The Committee approves the amendments to the Corporate RIPA policy in order to address use of social networking sites by local authorities. 

2.    The Committee note the statistical information relating to the use of RIPA over the preceding 3 years. 

Reason for recommendations

To comply with RIPA  and to assist with Members oversight and decision making on the draft RIPA policy appended to the report.