Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner - 2016
Under Section 57(7) of RIPA, the Secretary of State is obliged to consult with the
Commissioner and to make such technical facilities available and, subject to Treasury
approval as to numbers, to provide the Commissioner with such staff as are sufficient to
ensure that he or she is properly able to carry out their functions. These staff make up
the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) – a team of around
ten inspectors and two secretarial staff. IOCCO’s staff are independent, highly skilled,
and experienced in the principles and detail of RIPA. The inspectors have been recruited
from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a broad range of experience. Their
expertise covers the fields of legal, policy, analytics and forensic telecommunications.
They have extensive experience of working with police forces, intelligence and law
enforcement agencies, industry regulators, universities and telecommunications-related
private organisations.
IOCCO is an outward-facing organisation. A key part of its role is to communicate
outside of Government: to increase the public understanding of investigative techniques,
and to reassure the public that there is appropriate independent oversight of public
authorities’ investigative activities. During 2016, I and members of IOCCO have spoken
at a number of conferences and similar events. In addition, IOCCO published a paper on
the Investigatory Powers Bill in advance of its consideration by the House of Lords.
My office’s budget for 2016/17 was £1,140,093, allocated as below.
Table A IOCCO’s budget for 2016/17.
2016/17
Staff Costs
Travel and Subsistence
IT and Telecomms
Training and Recruitment
Office Supplies, Stationery, Printing
Conferences and Meetings
Other
Total
2
Budget
£ 1,013,285.00
£ 98,950.00
£ 4,000.00
£ 13,500.00
£ 9,358.00
£ 1,000.00
£ 1,140,093.00
Actual
£ 957,073.02
£ 116,459.09
£ 837.53
£ 1,172.00
£ 7,795.66
£ 5,298.62
£ 6,396.00
£ 1,095,031.92
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