Ripsa Annual Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 13 March 2025
Back to Audit and Scrutiny Committee — 13 March 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL Audit and Scrutiny Committee Legal and Regulatory Support 13 March 2025 Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 (RIPSA) Annual report 1.0 HEADLINES 1.1 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 (RIPSA) places a requirement on public authorities to authorise certain types of covert surveillance during planned investigations. 1.2 The Scottish Government Code of Practice on Covert Surveillance and Property Interference requires an annual report on the use of RIPSA to be reported to Members (‘the code of practice’) 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Audit and Scrutiny Committee consider and note the terms of the report. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 places a requirement on public authorities to authorise certain types of covert surveillance during planned investigations. 3.2 The Council has a policy and procedure in place that allows for appropriate authorisation of requests for covert surveillance to be considered/approved/refused and monitored through to completion. 3.2 Between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 the Council undertook no covert surveillance operations. 3.3 Training for staff in Roads and Infrastructure and Regulatory Services was undertaken in February and March 2024. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 The Council has met the requirements of the code of practice by providing this report to Committee.
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5.0 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy - None 5.2 Financial - None 5.3 Legal - None 5.4 HR - None 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 5.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics - None 5.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - None 5.5.3 Islands - None 5.6 Climate Change - None 5.7 Risk - None 5.8 Customer Service - None 5.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) - None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Policy Lead - Councillor Mark Irvine 17 February 2025 For further information contact: Iain Jackson, Governance, Risk and Safety Manager 01546 604188 APPENDICES None