Government requests to intercept private communications more
than doubled last year, a
parliamentary report revealed today.
Paul Kennedy, the interception of communications commissioner,
reported that the number of intercept requests from central
government authorities reached 519,260 in 2007, up from 253,557 in
2006.
Despite the growth in interception, Kennedy said that local
authorities were not making use of their powers to intercept
traffic information on e-mails and phone calls.
He said 154 of 474 local authorities had used powers under the
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act to make 1,707 requests
for communications data. In 2006 the figure was 122. "Local
authorities could make much more use of communications data as a
powerful tool to investigate crime," Kennedy said.
He said councils used the information to identify criminals who
persistently rip off consumers, cheat the taxpayer, deal in
counterfeit goods, prey on the elderly and vulnerable, and
fly-tippers.
"Interception has played a key role in the prevention of
murders, tackling large-scale drug importations, evasion of Excise
duty, people smuggling, gathering intelligenceon terrorists and
various extremist organisations, confiscation of firearms, serious
violent crime and terrorism," said Kennedy.
"Communications data plays a crucial role in the successful
outcome of prosecutions and often it is the primary reason why
offenders plead guilty."
Of the 1,881 warrants issued by the home secretary in 2007, 929
were still in force at the end of the year. The figures for
Scotland were 145 and 28 respectively.
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