The City Solicitor will submit Document “E” which provides information relating

to:

(a)  The number of authorised and approved covert surveillance operations (Nil return) undertaken by the Councils criminal investigation teams for the first two quarters of 2021.

(b)  An update of the training presented to senior officers of the Council in May 2021 and further training planned for 21^st July 2021

(c)  IPCO (Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office) guidance June 2021 which requires a review of the Councils RIPA policy.

(d)  The use of the Councils CCTV equipment by the Police or Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for covert surveillance.

(e)  Confirmation of the necessity and proportionality of the use of those covert investigative techniques implemented either by the Council the Police or DWP using the Council CCTV.

Recommended-

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That the Councils continued compliance with RIPA be noted.

(3)  That the training arranged be noted.

(4)   That the IPCO (Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office) advice regarding a Human Rights Act 1998 process be implemented by RiCMO (RIPA Coordinator and Monitoring Officer) be noted.

(Richard Winter – 01274 434292)

Resolved-

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That the Councils continued compliance with RIPA be noted.

(3)  That the importance of the training arranged be acknowledged.

(4)   That the IPCO (Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office) advice regarding a Human Rights Act 1998 process be implemented by RiCMO (RIPA Coordinator and Monitoring Officer)  and that a review of the RIPA Policy in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998 process be considered by the Committee in January 2022.

Action:  City Solicitor

                                                          (Richard Winter – 01274 434292)

The City Solicitor submitted Document “E” which provided

Information relating to:

(a)  The number of authorised and approved covert surveillance operations (Nil return) undertaken by the Councils criminal investigation teams for the first two quarters of 2021.

(b)  An update of the training presented to senior officers of the Council in May 2021 and further training planned for 21^st July 2021

(c)  IPCO (Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office) guidance June 2021 which requires a review of the Councils RIPA policy.

(d)  The use of the Councils CCTV equipment by the Police or Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for covert surveillance.

(e)  Confirmation of the necessity and proportionality of the use of those covert investigative techniques implemented either by the Council the Police or DWP using the Council CCTV.

Members sought clarification on the difference between covert and over surveillance; whether the CCTV was used effectively by the Police in the prevention and detection of crime; did officers use the RIPA regulations when it was necessary and proportionate and that review of the RIPA Policy in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998 process be considered by the Committee.

Resolved-

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That the Councils continued compliance with RIPA be noted.

(3)  That the importance of the training arranged be acknowledged.

(4)   That the IPCO (Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office) advice regarding a Human Rights Act 1998 process be implemented by RiCMO (RIPA Coordinator and Monitoring Officer)  and that a review of the RIPA Policy in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998 process be considered by the Committee in January 2022.

Action:  City Solicitor