The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 


The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) regulates the powers of public bodies to carry out surveillance and investigation and covers the interception of communications. Starting in 2003, wide-ranging extensions were made to the list of those entitled to see information collected under the RIPA, including jobcentres, local councils and the chief inspector of schools. Civil rights and privacy campaigners dubbed these extensions a “snoopers’ charter”. When the Act was first passed, only nine organisations (including the police and security services) were allowed to invoke it, but by 2008 its use was permitted by 792 organisations (including 474 councils).


The Act enabled the following:


• the government can demand that an ISP (Internet Service Provider) provides access to a customer’s communications in secret; 


• mass surveillance of communications in transit; 


• the government can demand ISPs fit equipment to facilitate surveillance; 


• the government can demand that someone hands over keys to protected information; 


• it allows the government to monitor people’s internet activities; and


• it prevents the existence of interception warrants and any data collected with them from being revealed in court.


A 2010 report by Big Brother Watch revealed that 372 local authorities had used RIPA powers to launch over 8,500 covert surveillance operations, including surveillance of their own staff. London’s Hammersmith and Fulham Council checked on their employees claiming time off sick, and Darlington Council used surveillance to make sure employees followed parking regulations. 


According to updated figures released by Big Brother Watch in January 2012, Newham Council in east London paid £10,392 to private investigators to snoop on a member of staff, while north London’s Barnet Council paid £6,785 to investigate two employees who had brought personal injury claims against the council. 


In 2013, Swansea Council used private investigators to film an employee who was found to be playing squash when he was supposed to be “working from home”. He was filmed entering the local sports centre every Thursday for six weeks. 


The coalition government promised to curb the use of surveillance powers and this led to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (POFA).