Issue - meetings

To provide Members with the annual report for the Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s use of RIPA and any related matters

The Committee had before it and NOTED a *report from the Group Manager for Legal Services and Monitoring Officer presented by the RIPA Coordinator who stated that the RIPA powers had not been used since 2014.

Members discussed the use of CCTV cameras and if these could be used to record instances of fly tipping and antisocial behaviour. It was explained that any such surveillance would need to be approved by a Magistrate and would be time limited and that only offences that could carry a 6 month prison term would be approved.

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

Arising from a report of the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation, the Community Policy Development Group made the following recommendations that:

(1)  the Cabinet be requested to approve the reviewed Regulation of Investigatory Powers procedure the revised RIPA policy including the new annex on social media/internet research.

(2)  officers draft a policy on covert surveillance for non-RIPA cases to be submitted for approval and;

(3)  the contents of the report be noted.

Arising from a report of the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation, the Community Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations: that

(1)  the Cabinet be requested to approve the reviewed Regulation of Investigatory Powers revised policy including the new annex on social media/internet research.

(2)  officers draft a policy on covert surveillance for non-RIPA cases to be submitted for approval and;

(3)  the contents of the report be noted.

The Cabinet Member for the Working Environment and Support Services outlined the contents of the report stating that the PDG had also considered a draft annex to the RIPA policy to provide guidance on the monitoring of information online such as social media posts, training would be given to officers on the monitoring of information online.  It was also proposed that officers draft a policy on covert surveillance for non-RIPA cases to be submitted for approval.  She was also able to report that the Council had not used its powers under RIPA since March 2014.

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive the annual review of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy from the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation.

The Group received the annual *review of Regulation of Investigatory Powers from the Director of Corporate Affairs and Business Transformation presented by the RIPA Co-ordinating Officer.

There were no issues or queries raised by Members and therefore:

It was resolved

(1)To RECOMMEND to the Cabinet to approve the reviewed Regulation of Investigatory Powers procedure the revised RIPA policy including the new annex on social media/internet research.

(2) that officers draft a policy on covert surveillance for non-RIPA cases to be submitted for approval and

(3) to note the contents of the Report

(Proposed by the Chairman).

NOTE: *Review previously circulated and attached to the minutes.