Interception of communications and equipment interference: draft codes of practice

This is a consultation on 2 draft codes of practice pursuant to section 71 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

The first is an updated interception of communications code of practice. This includes new details about the operation of the regime for the interception under RIPA of communications sent or received from outside the UK. It also includes further information about the safeguards for the interception of legally privileged communications and minor changes to reflect developments in the law since the code was first introduced in 2002.

The second is a new equipment interference code of practice. This explains the circumstances and procedures that must be followed before the Security and Intelligence Agencies can interfere with electronic equipment, such as computers, and the rules that must apply to the processing, retention, destruction and disclosure of any information obtained by means of the interference.

The purpose of the codes is to make publicly available more information about the robust safeguards that apply to the police and the security and intelligence agencies in their use of investigatory powers.

The consultation seeks representations on the content of the draft codes of practice.

This consultation runs for 6 weeks from 6 February until 20 March 2015.

Enquiries and responses should be sent to:

RIPA@homeoffice.x.gsi.gov.uk

Please indicate in your response whether you are content for it to be published, with or without attributing it to you/your organisation.