CHAPTER 7: PRACTICE
Interception
The uses of interception
7.11.
Interception powers are summarised at 6.3-6.5, 6.10-6.15 and 6.34-6.59 above.
Information on the use of interception powers is published each year in reports by the
IOCC. In the Charles Farr Statement, the Director-General of OSCT set out the
Government’s view of the importance of intelligence obtained through interception:
“Intelligence [from interception] has led directly to the prevention of terrorist
attacks and serious crime, the success of operations aimed at countering the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the saving of lives. Overall,
RIPA interception is a critical tool in investigations into the full range of threats
to national security.”
7.12.
Many of the organisations empowered to use interception stressed to me its
importance to the success of their work. For example:
(a)
MI5 said that interception was “a critical part of [their] toolkit” used in a “sizeable
proportion” of its recent investigations. “In the majority of the operations in
which it is used, interception of electronic communications provides unique
intelligence which would be extremely hard, if not impossible to replicate
through use of other sources”.6 In 2013 this was estimated to be 15-20% of the
total intelligence picture in counter-terrorism investigations.7
(b)
The NCA told me that intercepted material “is a key tool in the disruption of the
most significant High Priority and Priority serious and organised criminals and
their groups in the UK. ... For some areas of NCA activity ... there are no
practical alternatives to using ... interception”.8 In 2013-14, interception played
a critical role in investigations that resulted in:
(c)
6
7
8
9
Over 2,200 arrests;
Over 750kg of heroin and 2,000kg of cocaine seized;
Over 140 firearms seized; and
Over £20,000,000 seized.9
Police impressed upon me that intercepted material may be useful in other
types of cases, ranging from corruption investigations to domestic murder.
Evidence to the Review dated 1 October 2014.
Home Office evidence to the Review October 2014.
Evidence to the Review dated 2 October 2014.
NCA performance data 2013-14 repeated in Home Office evidence to the Review October 2014.
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