More than 120,000 requests for communications data by police forces
It appears that the press have finally started to understand the intrusive nature of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, for both innocent members of the public and journalists.
As part of our written evidence submitted to the Joint Committee on Draft Communications Data Bill in 2012, we submitted figures obtained through he Freedom of Information Act, highlighting police forces’ use of RIPA to access communications data for the period 2009-12. The figures highlighted that there were more than 120,000 requests for communications data by police in the year 2011-12.
We are re-publishing that information today, and it can be accessed here.
The significant variations in the level of use of communications data and the variations in the numbers of requests internally rejected starkly highlights a clear issue around training and education within forces about making best use of information available, where necessary and proportionate, and also raises questions about the consistency of oversight. Also interestingly, only Humberside Police was able to provide us with a breakdown of the offence categories it has used communications data for.
The Government needs to urgently address the fact that the Interception of Communications Commissioner has warned that spying powers are being over-used by some police forces. Quite simply, if the police can’t get it right with the powers they already have then it is completely irresponsible for the Home Office to be planning on increasing those powers. The inadequacy and inconsistency of the records being kept by public authorities about how they are using these powers is woefully inadequate. Correcting this would not require new laws so it should not wait until after the election.
If the Government fails to address these serious points, we can already know that there will be many more innocent members of the public who will be wrongly spied on and accused. This is simply unacceptable.
6 Comments
Anonymous
12th October 2014“Correcting this would not require new laws so it should not wait until after the election.”
But that’s exactly what Cameron wants, so he can add it to their manifesto for another five years. Did you really expect anything different?
GoodnightVienna
13th October 2014You’re right. The bottom line is that they serve themselves, not us. Time after time it comes down to that and can be seen in their actions and heard in their words. Yet people continue to vote for them.
Anonymous
20th October 2014Making manifestos legally binding would help as they wouldn’t be able to lie to get in power anymore.
As for voters who continue voting in this manner, we’ll always have these idiots voting, we need to outnumber them by convincing the non-voters to vote. It would be an interesting experiment if it was a legal requirement to vote.
Britain's surveillance would turn the Stasi green with envy | ITsecurityITsecurity
13th October 2014[…] Republished 12 October 2014; Big Brother Watch More than 120,000 requests for communications data by police forces […]
Mike Cunningham
17th October 2014In my own North East Coucil area, that council made over 200 RIPA investigations in three years; the cost of which is never, ever, likely to be revealed.
The product of this costly farrago?
One conviction for fly-tipping!
Anonymous
18th October 2014That is interesting, considering that RIPA isn’t to be used anymore if the offense isn’t over six months.