Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria have been laid down for the use of equipment in police surveillance in Scotland.
§ Mr. AncramGuidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations were issued to chief constables of Scottish forces in March 1978. These explain that the primary purpose of the use of such equipment must be to help confirm or dispel a suspicion of serious crime and that the authorising officer must be satisfied on each occasion that the use of such equipment is operationally necessary, feasible and justified in all the circumstances. The guidelines are being reviewed at present and when the review is completed I shall place a copy of the revised guidelines in the Library of the House.