§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1999,Official Report, column 568, on the Security Service, if he will list the law enforcement agencies which could potentially task the Security Service with respect to serious crime. [89655]
§ Mr. StrawThe Security Service Act 1996 does not define the meaning of "law enforcement agencies" for the purpose of the Act.
599WHowever, I would regard a law enforcement agency for these purposes (and having regard to the serious crime provision in section 1(4) of the 1989 Act) as being a public body or government department whose functions include investigation of serious crime.
In practice, the Security Service will generally be acting in support of the following law enforcement agencies:
- National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS)
- National Crime Squad
- Police forces
- Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
However, as the then Government made clear in the debate on the Security Service Act 1996, other agencies, including the Serious Fraud Office, the Immigration Service and the Inland Revenue, could also receive support from the Security Service.
All requests for Security Service assistance to law enforcement agencies in support of the prevention or detection of serious crime are co-ordinated through the NCIS in accordance with arrangements formally agreed between the Director General of NCIS and the Security Service.