2012 Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner
Figure 13 illustrates that 93% of the 2605 requests were for subscriber data under Section
21(4) (c) (i.e. name and address). Local authorities predominantly acquire subscriber data in
order to identify unknown suspects, thought to be responsible for particular criminal offences.
This year a quarter of the 160 local authorities acquired service use data under Section 21(4)
(b) or a combination of Section 21(4) (c) and (b) data and this accounted for the remaining 7%
of requests.
Figure 13 – Local Authority Communications Data Usage
2% Combination of (b) and (c)
Service Use Data - Section 21 (4)(b)
5%
Subscriber Data
Section 21 (4)(c)
93%
The National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) continues to provide a national SPoC facility to
those local authorities who wish to use their service. 129 of the 160 local authorities who used
their powers this year reported that they are now submitting their requests through NAFN.
In addition a number of local authorities who did not submit applications in the reporting year
have also subscribed to the NAFN SPoC Service. Approximately 88% of the 2605 requests made
in 2012 were managed by the NAFN SPoC Service and this is a further increase from last year
(70%).
“Approximately 88% of the 2605 requests [made by local authorities] were
managed by the NAFN SPoC Service”
NAFN was inspected once during the reporting year. During the NAFN inspection my inspectors
examined approximately half of the communications data requests that had been submitted in
the period being inspected. 126 individual local authorities had submitted applications in that
period and the inspectors ensured that they examined applications relating to each individual
local authority. I am pleased to report that NAFN again emerged very well from their inspection.
The SPoCs at NAFN are providing an excellent service and are ensuring that local authorities
act in an informed and lawful manner when acquiring communications data. Overall NAFN is
achieving a good level of compliance with the Act and Code of Practice on behalf of its local
authority members.
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