Issue - meetings

To seek Cabinet approval for the proposed amendments to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (‘RIPA’) policy and to inform Members that none of the RIPA powers have been used in the last 12 months.

Cabinet was updated with the revised RIPA policy. No substantive changes had been proposed. It was a requirement to update Members on an annual basis to ensure it remained fit for purpose. The policy required Members to consider the use of the RIPA powers on an annual basis to ensure it was being used in accordance with the Council’s policy. Members noted that there had been no use of RIPA powers since 2015. This was because these powers were only used by the Council in relation to the investigations into benefit fraud and the function was transferred to the Department of Works and Pensions in 2015. 

            RESOLVED that the updated RIPA Policy be approved

Reason

If the Council did not adopt a revised RIPA Policy and there is no common reference point, there was a risk that covert surveillance was inconsistently applied across different service areas. This might increase the risk of legal challenge and reduce the fairness and effectiveness of the Council’s approach to covert surveillance. The adoption of a policy was considered to be best working practice and would assist the Council to demonstrate that it had regard to the relevant legislation and Codes of Practice.