IPCO Annual Report 2018
Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) and Surveillance
13.9
Local authorities are able to authorise the use of directed surveillance and CHIS under
RIPA for a range of purposes. These can include: to identify those responsible for
environmentally damaging fly-tipping; to identify those who may be causing major criminal
damage to council property or that of local residents; the unlawful sale of alcohol or
tobacco to minors; or to detect serious fraudulent activity.
Example: use of CHIS and surveillance
A local authority was experiencing a spate of thefts from pay and display parking meters and
after some initial analysis of the crimes installed covert CCTV cameras at locations where it was
believed the offenders may strike again. Within a week images of the offenders and the vehicle
they were using were captured. The evidence was passed to the police who arrested and
prosecuted the offenders.
13.10
In Scotland, which has additional grounds available to local authorities, directed
surveillance could be used to detect the sale or preparation of meat unfit for human
consumption, or practices by landlords that place tenants at risk in terms of their safety.34
350
309
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
36
CHIS
Directed surveillance
Figure 13: CHIS and directed surveillance authorisations by local authorities in the
UK in 2018
34 These scenarios are by example only.
89