2012 Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner
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COMMISSIONER’S FOREWORD
I am required by Section 58 (4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 to
report to the Prime Minister ‘as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar year’ with
respect to the carrying out of my functions. Having undertaken this role annually since 2006, I
move now to my final report, covering the period between 1st January and 31st December 2012.
I stood down as Interception of Communications Commissioner at the end of this period and
am not in a position to deal with events after that period.
Much has changed in interception and the use of communications data since I began as
Commissioner in 2006. Changes have been caused by the advancement of communications
technology and the increase in methods of communication available to members of the public.
Lawful interception and communications data acquisition remain crucial techniques for the UK’s
intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies and wider public authorities to use in pursuit of
their statutory objectives. I remain confident that they, and the warrant signing Secretaries of
State whom I oversee, take very seriously their responsibilities to comply with the legislation.
The report for 2011 was well received, and I report in the same level of depth this year. I have
repeated information which I believe is necessary for readers to understand my oversight of
lawful interception, communications data and interception of prisoners’ communications without
reference to previous reports.
The Rt Hon Sir Paul Kennedy
Interception of Communications Commissioner
(2006-2012)
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