Decision details

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) provides a framework for certain public bodies, including local authorities, to use "covert surveillance" to gather information about individuals without their knowledge for the purposes of undertaking statutory functions in connection with the prevention or detection of crime.

RIPA activity and authorisations are governed by Codes of Practice and Guidance issued by the Office for Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) and the Home Office.

Local authorities are also subject to regular inspections from the OSC.

Members are required to review the use of RIPA and set the policy at least once a year. Elected members cannot be involved in decisions on specific authorisations, but have oversight of the process via the reporting requirement to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the requirement for Cabinet to review, on an annual basis, the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and set the policy.

It was noted that RIPA provided a framework for certain public bodies, including local authorities, to use covert surveillance to gather information about individuals without their knowledge for the purposes of undertaking statutory functions in connection with the prevention or detection of crime.

It was noted that local authorities were subject to regular inspections on their use of RIPA from the Office for Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) and that local authorities were also subject to a reporting requirement to an appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was further noted that in Lancashire, covert surveillance was used infrequently and only in connection with Trading Standards activities.

Resolved: - That the recommendation set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or alternative recommendations be made.