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IPCO Annual Report 2018
Interception and Equipment Interference
9.6
The MOD may apply to the Secretary of State for Defence to conduct activities in the UK
which fall under the IPA, such as interception or equipment interference.
Additional targeted interception and targeted examination provisions s17(2)
9.7
As detailed in chapter 2, the IPA sets out provisions to obtain warrants to intercept
communications for a group of persons or more than one organisation or set of premises.
Under section 17(2)(c) the MOD may apply for a warrant to intercept communications for
the purposes of training and testing in the UK. Our inspection of the MOD fell during the
transition period as the IPA was being introduced and so we did not inspect any reliance on
this provision in 2018.
9.8
With regard to activity authorised under RIPA, our inspection noted that the MOD has good
internal authorisation processes. There is a good audit trail which details what equipment is
used and when and what if any collateral intrusion occurred.
Targeted equipment interference warrants s 101(1) and (2)
9.9
We discussed the provisions for thematic warrants in relation to training and testing
equipment with elements of the MOD during the process of transition to the IPA. We will
inspect any reliance on these provisions at future inspections.