Issue - meetings

There was very limited use of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) within Operational Services Enforcement over the period under review, because the majority of our investigations are successfully carried out by enforcement officers without the need for authorised directed surveillance.

Three operations that utilising authorised directed surveillance were undertaken in 2017. All three targeted potential criminal activity across Thanet. Cabinet noted that there was successful enforcement action which led to a £400 fixed penalty notice for one case of criminal offence of fly-tipping and successful legal action in another case for dumped hydroponic waste fly-tip from a hire van, (following social media appeal).

In 2017 the surveillance regulator completed an audit of the Councils policy and procedures and use of the RIPA powers. The regulator concluded that the Council had robust processes in place to manage its statutory obligations regarding the management of RIPA. As a result of this successful audit the Council would not be inspected again until 2020.

No Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) applications were authorised in 2017. Cabinet was advised that it was not standard Council policy or practice to use human intelligence sources as part of the enforcement activities.

Councillor Savage proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Members approved the amended RIPA Policy & Procedure Guidance and noted the use of RIPA by the authority in 2017.