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Databases: Telecommunications

Answer

Statistics on the number of authorisations and notices issued under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), Part 1 Chapter 2, to acquire communications data are held by the independent Interception of Communications Commissioner. Some figures have been published in the Commissioner's annual reports. The next annual report is due for publication shortly.

There are currently no published statistics relating to the number of RIPA obligations that have been rejected by communications service providers. The Act and its code of practice require that any obligation made under the Act is necessary and proportionate, and must apply to a communications service provider (CSP). The system of Single Points of Contact, and the additional code of practice requirements, are intended to ensure that it is reasonably practicable for a communications service provider (CSP) to comply.

There are no published figures linking crime type investigated to numbers of authorisations and notices. However, in 2010 the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office commissioned a targeted survey of all communications data requested by law enforcement in a two-week period. The survey covered all requests in relation to crime, excluding terrorism. This survey showed the following:

	Percentage
Murder	11.37
Kidnap, extortion and blackmail	2.74
Sexual offences	12.30
Drugs trafficking	26.10
People trafficking	0.89
Other serious crime	29.31
Other crime	17.30

The ‘Other serious crime’ category was not further disaggregated in the 2010 survey but will include crimes such as violence against the person, robbery, fraud, forgery and firearms offences.

It is important to note that the data from this survey represent a snapshot from a limited period of time and may be affected disproportionately by particular investigations in progress at the time of the survey. Accordingly, the figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers have recently commissioned another targeted survey.

Some statistics breaking down usage across the categories of communications data are available in the Commissioner's published reports, although not for the whole period requested. A breakdown is provided in the 2010 report. The Commissioner does not publish a breakdown for the use of the urgent oral process across categories of communications data. Guidance on the use of the urgent oral process is included in the Acquisition and Disclosure of Communications Data Code of Practice.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

110790; 546 c864W

Session

2012-13

Related items

House of Commons Tabled Parliamentary Question 2012-13 113032
Monday, 18 June 2012
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

Databases Telecommunications

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk