2013 Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner
Figure 6 2013 Proportion of Authorisations & Notices under RIPA 2000 Part I Chapter II by
Public Authority Type
local
authorities 0.3%
police forces &
law enforcement agencies
87.7%
intelligence agencies
11.5%
other public
authorities 0.5%
4.26 Finally, this year my office conducted a scoping exercise for this report with the
aim of providing some further statistical information in relation to the statutory necessity
purposes under which data is required. There has in the past been legitimate public
concern expressed in relation to the allegedly large number of statutory necessity
purposes for acquiring communications data. What my scoping exercise has shown
is that less than half a percent of all the requests were for purposes other than the
prevention and detection of crime or the prevention of disorder, national security, or in an
emergency to prevent death or injury. Figure 7 (overleaf) details this breakdown which,
although representative, must again be treated with caution for the reasons outlined in
the preceding paragraphs.
Question of Concern
4.27 There is a question of concern I have raised in public as a possibility. It will require
detailed examination which we are in the process of undertaking.
4.28 The communications data statistics given above are liable to be misleading. But
taking the 514,608 number for Part I Chapter II authorisations and notices at face value,
it seems to me to be a very large number. It has the feel of being too many. I have
accordingly asked our inspectors to take a critical look at the constituents of this bulk to
see if there might be a significant institutional overuse of the Part I Chapter II powers.
This may apply in particular to police forces and law enforcement agencies who between
them account for approaching 90% of the bulk.
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