The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)

Background

A public consultation on the attached draft code of practice on access to communications data to be made under Section 71 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 starts on 13 August 2001.

This code lays down the guidelines that public authorities listed in section 25(1) of the Act should follow when accessing communications data.

The draft code will:

• explain and define in detail the provisions of access to communications data;
• set down the authorisation procedure and the information which must be obtained before an authorisation can be granted or a notice given.

Copies of the code are available from the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/pdccpc.html Hard copies may be requested by sending an email to RIPA.Pt1Ch2.draftcode.responses@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or by fax on 020 7273 3250.

How to respond

The consultation period starts on Monday 13 August and will finish on Friday 2 November 2001.

The Government invites comments on all aspects of the code and will give careful consideration to consultation responses before the code is laid in Parliament.

Respondents should make clear whether or not they wish their comments to remain confidential. In every case, respondents should include a brief description of the nature of their organisation and, if relevant, the groups whom they represent. Respondents should provide a short non-confidential summary of their concerns for publication on the Home Office website.

Consultation responses should be sent to:

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act Implementation Team

Room 735
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT

The Government intends to publish a summary of consultation responses and a response to consultation. These documents will be available on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crimpol/crimreduc/regulation/index.html