Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Annual Report 2019

Figure 30: Directed surveillance across law enforcement agencies and wider public
and local authorities65
6000

5,627

5,388

5000
4000
2018
2019

3000
2000
1,122 1,171

1000
0

309

Law enforcement
agencies

Wider public
authorities

327

Local
authorities

50

7

Prisons

Targeted Interception
19.12

The number of targeted interception (TI) authorisations has been relatively steady over
the last three years with a slight reduction in 2019. For the UK Intelligence Community
(UKIC) many TI warrants were combined with targeted equipment interference (TEI).
TI applications made in combined warrants are shown in the total figure below. The
percentage of urgent applications has fallen to around 3%, which is lower than in
previous years.

Figure 31: Targeted interception authorisations by the UK Intelligence Community,
the Ministry of Defence and law enforcement agencies, 2014 – 2019.
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500

2,795

3,057

3,535

3,576

2017

2018

3,329

3,007

2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0

2014

2015

2016

2019

65 Fire and Rescue Services appeared as a nil return in this table in last year’s report. They no longer use
directed surveillance powers and will in due course be removed from the schedule of public authorities
authorised to do so.

143

Select target paragraph3