22
IPCO Annual Report 2017
3.56
SIS informed us they do not seek to cultivate or recruit juvenile sources. We asked about
any training exercises conducted in public spaces, with particular concern as to how
they ensure that officers are not approaching or interacting with minors. SIS said officers
were expected to make this judgement and to take a cautious approach. We are content
that while this does not entirely eliminate the risk, the nature of any approach would be
minimally intrusive and SIS is taking appropriate steps to ensure that there is no engagement
with minors.
3.57
The MOD and SIS share a similar policy on the risk of encountering juveniles when engaging
online. We were satisfied that the MOD will begin a structured review process if a target is
identified as a juvenile, albeit it assesses the risk of encountering juveniles to be minimal.
3.58
GCHQ will immediately break off contact if they become aware they are dealing with a juvenile.
3.59
In late 2018 concern arose about the use of juveniles as CHIS following the extension
of the authorisation period to four months. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner has
undertaken to report in more detail in 2019 about the use of juvenile sources, including by
way of providing more detailed statistics. Enquiries so far (although not complete) show that
very few juveniles have been used by LEAs as CHIS during the relevant period (at any one
time young people acting as CHIS are unlikely to reach double figures) and that all these
CHIS were above 15 years old. Furthermore, their involvement is usually of short duration,
and they are, with very few exceptions, involved in criminality or youth gangs before they
are recruited.
Northern Ireland local authorities
3.60
The IPC does not have oversight of directed surveillance or the use of CHIS by local
authorities in Northern Ireland. There is an argument that this anomaly should be rectified.