Agenda item - Annual Surveillance Report
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Agenda item
Annual Surveillance Report
- Meeting of Audit & Standards Committee, Tuesday, 9th March, 2021 4.00pm (Item 58.)
- View the background to item 58.
Report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law
Decision:
1) That Committee agree that the continued use of covert surveillance and the Policy be approved as an enforcement tool to prevent and detect crime and disorder investigated by its officers, providing the activity is in line with the Council’s Policy and Guidance and the necessity and proportionality rules are stringently applied.
2) That the surveillance activity undertaken by the authority since the report to Committee in January 2020 as set out in paragraph 3.3 is noted.
3) That the continued use of the Policy and Guidance document as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.
Minutes:
58.1 The Committee considered a report of the Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law that detailed the activities that have been undertaken utilising the powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) since the last report to Committee in January 2020 and report sought approval for a revised Policy and Guidance document.
58.2 In response to questions from Councillor Moonan and Councillor Hugh-Jones, the Head of Safer Communities confirmed that the one instance where covert surveillance had been undertaken without any issues and in accordance with policy and procedures. The Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law explained that requests were made to use RIPA and these were thoroughly scrutinised, and the arrangements regularly reviewed by the Surveillance Commissioner. Furthermore, any requests to use RIPA had to be applied by a magistrate.
58.3 RESOLVED-
1) That Committee agree that the continued use of covert surveillance and the Policy be approved as an enforcement tool to prevent and detect crime and disorder investigated by its named officers, providing the activity is in line with the Council’s Policy and Guidance and the necessity and proportionality rules are stringently applied.
2) That the surveillance activity undertaken by the authority since the report to Committee in January 2020 as set out in paragraph 3.3 is noted.
3) That the continued use of the Policy and Guidance document as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.
Supporting documents:
- Annual Surveillance Report, item 58. PDF 124 KB View as HTML (58./1) 24 KB
- Annual Surveillance Report APX. n 1, item 58. PDF 1 MB View as HTML (58./2) 125 KB