Nottingham City Council reports it has been recognised by watchdogs as one of the best public authorities in the country for the way it carries out undercover surveillance operations to tackle crime.
Monitoring of suspected criminals is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) – and the council has been commended by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners for its practice in observing the strict rules.
Besides undertaking overt surveillance through CCTV in public areas and high-rise flats, the council adds that it carries out a handful of secret operations each year, usually in relation to investigations into criminal behaviour by housing tenants or rogue traders. Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Andrew Leggatt said: “The paucity of recommendations is rare. It testifies to the success of the Council’s management of covert activities. In this field it is one of the best conducted local authorities in Britain.” The report added that it was “rare” for an inspection to note “several instances of commendable good practice”. These include:
– separation of RIPA monitoring duties to ensure decisions about covert surveillance operations are made independently.
– secure central register of authorised covert operations, which is monitored to ensure regular reviews and prompt cancellations.
– meticulous way in which the council’s Housing Department plans surveillance activity by, for example, producing maps and sketch plans to pinpoint the premises under surveillance and observation points.
What they say
Tony McGovern, Chief Risk Officer for Nottingham City Council, said: “This report is a testimony to the care with which the Council plans and manages covert surveillance to ensure that we apply the law correctly and do not risk infringing people’s human rights. Covert activity is a very useful tool in tackling criminal behaviour, but it is only used when there is no other way to gather the evidence necessary to support a prosecution, and the public can be reassured that the council meets the highest standards of compliance.”
The only recommendations arising from the OSC’s inspection, accepted by the council, it adds, were minor amendments to an employees’ guide to RIPA and further training to help authorising officers ensure their decisions are proportionate.
