§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many office telephone taps have been authorised by chief constables in each of the constabularies in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement; [8858]
(2) what is his policy in respect of decisions by chief constables to tap the office telephones of senior employees of police authorities. [8857]
§ Mr. HowardThe interception of a communication in the course of its transmission by a public telecommunications system requires a warrant issued by the Secretary of State under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. A decision by a chief constable to monitor calls on a private telephone system operated by the police is not covered by the 1985 Act; such a decision is an operational matter for the chief456W constable concerned. There is no central record of such authorisations and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for The Home Department, what notification he received of the decision of the chief constable of Merseyside to tap the office telephone of Ms Alison Halford when employed by the Merseyside Police Authority; and if he will make a statement. [8856]
§ Mr. HowardIt is not the practice of the Government to confirm or deny allegations that interception has taken place in any particular case. Any decision by a chief constable to monitor calls on a private telecommunications system operated by the police is an operational matter which would not require notification to the Home Office.