2013 Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner
4.41 Inspection Findings and Recommendations. The total number of
recommendations made during our 75 communications data inspections in 2013 was 299
(Figure 8 ). A traffic light system (red, amber, green) is in place for the recommendations
to enable public authorities to prioritise the areas where remedial action is necessary:
•
Red recommendations - immediate concern - serious breaches and / or noncompliance with Part I Chapter II or the Code of Practice.
Amber recommendations - non-compliance to a lesser extent; however
remedial action must still be taken in these areas as they could potentially
lead to serious breaches.
Green recommendations - represent good practice or areas where the
efficiency and effectiveness of the process could be improved.
•
•
This year 19 (6%) of the recommendations were red, 177 (59%) amber and 103 (35%)
green. Comparisons with previous years are difficult because the public authorities being
inspected are not the same and the number of inspections conducted each year differs.
However, in 2013 the inspectors made on average fewer recommendations per inspection
than in 2011 & 2012. The proportions of red, amber, green have remained broadly the
same.
Figure 8 Total red, amber & green recommendations resulting from communications data
inspections 2011-2013
700
600
500
275
400
Red
203
Amber
300
103
200
310
264
177
100
0
30
26
2011
26
2012
19
2013
Green