Purpose

The Council’s Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy must be considered by
elected members annually to set the Policy and to ensure that if
the Council is using its RIPA powers, it is doing so appropriately
and complying with its own Code of Practice when carrying out
covert surveillance.

The Council has not exercised these powers for a number of years
but must ensure that it has the appropriate policy and training in
place should the need to arise to use them. The Policy was approved
by members in January 2024. There have been no amendments since
then.

Content

The Cabinet has
considered a report setting out the Council’s Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy which must be considered by
elected members annually to set the Policy and to ensure that if
the Council is using its RIPA powers, it is doing so appropriately
and complying with its own Code of Practice when carrying out
covert surveillance, and has:-
 
(1) Noted that the
Council has not exercised its RIPA powers since the last
report.
 
(2) Approve the RIPA
Policy/ Code of Practice for the forthcoming year.

Alternative options considered

None.