Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner - July 2016

of sections 1 to 4 of the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2012. Both of
these functions are new areas of oversight which we have so far informally been asked
by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to oversee. It seems odd that these two
new areas of oversight are included in the IP Bill, but there is no explicit provision for
our current oversight of the interception of communications in prisons. To remedy this,
clause 206 of the IP Bill requires amending to include oversight of conduct taking place
under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the IP Bill.
5.23 Although we welcome a number of the amendments which have already
been made by the Government to the IP Bill, in our view there is still room for further
amendments to enhance safeguards and to increase accountability and transparency.

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