This website is primarily designed to be used by those who authorise and conduct covert surveillance operations and covert human intelligence sources (as informants and undercover officers are now known). It shows you how to carry out these activities in compliance with the powers granted by Parliament, and how the OSC monitors the exercise of those powers. By way of practical help we have identified some key points, some sources of advice, and some examples of good and bad practice.
I hope that the website will also be useful to members of the public who are interested in finding out about covert surveillance. It is worth noting that although this website is relevant to most public authorities, it is not concerned with telephone intercepts. The basic legal principles are to be found in the Police Act 1997, to which we shall refer as 'the 1997 Act', the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (`RIPA') and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 (`RIPS(S)A').
We intend to develop the site. How we do so will depend on the use that is made of it. So please let us know how you think it can be improved.
Sir Andrew Leggatt
Chief Surveillance Commissioner
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