Issue - meetings

Annual Update - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)

 

 

Meeting: 06/11/2023 - Cabinet (Item 74)

74 Annual Update - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Annual Update - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)

 

Executive Summary

The Council is required to have a Policy for the use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

 

Home Office guidance recommends that elected members should review the use of the RIPA powers and ensure the policy remains fit for purpose, at least once per year.

 

Officers have reviewed the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Policy and Procedures document and made a number of minor changes. These changes reflect references in the document to relevant Codes of Practice and removed references to a guidance document which has been withdrawn and not yet replaced.

 

Officers have reviewed the Internet & Social Media Research & Investigations Policy and identified that no changes are necessary at this time.

 

The Council has made use of powers under RIPA on one occasion in the last 12 months.

 

Options considered

 

The Policy is required to ensure proper application of the Act, so there is not an alternative option. 

 

Consultation(s)

Consultation has been undertaken with the Monitoring Officer, who also acts as the Gatekeeper for RIPA activity.

 

Recommendations

 
  1. That the amendments to the revised Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Policy and Procedures, set out at Appendix A, be accepted.

 

  1. That Members note that there are no amendments required to the Internet & Social Media Research & Investigations Policy

 

  1. That Members note the activity undertaken under RIPA.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

The Council is required to have an up to date policy/procedure in order to exercise its powers.

 

Members are required to be aware of the RIPA activity undertaken by the Council.

 

Background papers

 

None

 

 

 

Wards affected

All

 

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Calum Ringer

 

Contact Officer

Steve Hems, Director for Communities

01263 516192

Steve.hems@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

Links to key documents:

 

Corporate Plan:         

This item does not directly relate to delivery of the Corporate Plan objectives but is a statutory requirement.

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

There is no direct impact on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Council Policies & Strategies

NNDC Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Policy and Procedures

NNDC Internet & Social Media Research & Investigations Policy

 

Corporate Governance:

 

Is this a key decision 

 No

Has the public interest test been applied

Yes, not exempt

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

N/A

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To approve

 

  1. That the amendments to the revised Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Policy and Procedures, set out at Appendix A, be accepted.

 

  1. That Members note that there are no amendments required to the Internet & Social Media Research & Investigations Policy

 

  1. That Members note the activity undertaken under RIPA.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

The Council is required to have an up to date policy/procedure in order to exercise its powers.

 

Members are required to be aware of the RIPA activity undertaken by the Council.

 

Minutes:

 

The Chairman invited Cllr C Ringer, Portfolio Holder for IT, Environmental & Waste Services to introduce this item. He explained that the Council was required to have a policy for the use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and members were requested to review this on an annual basis.

 

The Director for Communities added that this was being brought forward in line with Home Office guidance. He said that officers had reviewed the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Policy and Procedures document and made a number of minor changes. These changes reflected references in the document to relevant Codes of Practice and removed references to a guidance document which had been withdrawn and not yet replaced. Officers had reviewed the Internet & Social Media Research & Investigations Policy and identified that no changes were necessary at this time.

 

The Chairman sought clarification that there had been no significant changes within the last year. The Director for Communities confirmed that there had not been. He said that a previous piece of guidance had been withdrawn and not yet replaced so all references to this document had been removed from the Council’s documents.

 

It was proposed by Cllr C Ringer, seconded by Cllr T Adams and

 

RESOLVED

 

To approve

 

  1. That the amendments to the revised Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Policy and Procedures, set out at Appendix A, be accepted.

 

  1. That Members note that there are no amendments required to the Internet & Social Media Research & Investigations Policy

 

  1. That Members note the activity undertaken under RIPA.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

The Council is required to have an up to date policy/procedure in order to exercise its powers.

 

Members are required to be aware of the RIPA activity undertaken by the Council.