Issue - meetings

To give an annual report to members on activities relating to surveillance by the Council and policies under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

The Committee received a report detailing activities in relation to surveillance by the Council and policies under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

The Office of the Surveillance Commissioner had inspected the Council’s RIPA procedures and activity in 2017. The recommendations made by this review were incorporated into an amended Policy, and agreed by the Strategy and Resources Committee on 17 April 2018.

The Council had made no use of powers provided under RIPA during 2016-17. During 2017-18 it had made one application to undertake directed surveillance, and this had led to the conviction of a defendant for fly tipping.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Noted the annual report of the Council’s use of its RIPA powers.

(2)          Approved the Council’s Policy & Guidance on Lawful Surveillance for the forthcoming year, as attached at Annex 1 to the report.