HL Deb 27 January 1997 vol 577 cc75-7WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many authorisations have been made by Chief Police Officers for actions under Part II (Covert use of listening devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations have been made in relation to each police force separately in the United Kingdom for actions under Part II (Covert use of listening devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations for intrusive surveillance by Chief Customs Officers of HM Customs and Excise have been made under Part II (Covert use of listening devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations by Chief Police Officers have been made for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in policesurveillance operations in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations have been made in relation to each police force separately in the United Kingdom for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations for each of the years 1990-95; and

How many authorisations have been made in relation to each police force separately in the United Kingdom for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations for intrusive surveillance by Chief Customs Officers of HM Customs and Excise have been made for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1990–95.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

Figures are not held centrally on the number of authorisations. However, an exercise undertaken to inform debate on the current Police Bill confirmed that, in 1995, there were approximately 2,100 chief officer authorisations by police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of intrusive surveillance operations in the United Kingdom. We do not intend to publish a further breakdown of these figures into individual organisations as we believe this might help criminals identify the scope of activity in a particular force area.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many authorisations have been refused by Chief Police Officers for actions under Part II (Covert use of listening devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations have been refused in relation to each police force separately in the United Kingdom for actions under Part II (Covert use of listening devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations for intrusive surveillance by Chief Customs Officers of HM Customs and Excise have been refused under Part II (Covert use of listening devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations by Chief Police Officers have been refused for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations have been refused in relation to each police force separately in the United Kingdom for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations for each of the years 1990–95; and

How many authorisations for intrusive surveillance by Chief Customs Officers of HM Customs & Excise have been refused for actions under Part III (Covert use of visual surveillance devices) of the 1984 Home Office Guidelines on the use of equipment in police surveillance operations in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1990–95.

Baroness Blatch

This information is not collected.