§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which department has responsibility for bringing forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of(a) the Ministry of Defence Police and (b) British Transport Police to give them constabulary powers; and if he will make a statement. [117670]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Home Office, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), keeps under review all matters concerning the role, powers and jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and the British Transport Police (BTP).
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill currently before Parliament proposes an amendment to the Police Act 1997 to enable the Chief Constable of the MDP and the Chief Constable of the BTP to authorise interference with property and wireless telegraphy within their force's existing jurisdiction under Part III of that Act. Part II of the Bill will also allow them, along with other chief constables, to authorise intrusive surveillance.
522WMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, the then Minister of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Mr. Shaw) on 31 July 1998, Official Report, columns 637-638, the Government's intention to establish, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, an independent national police authority for the British Transport Police. Following consultation with the police service, the Home Office is also considering with the DETR an extension to the BTP's jurisdiction in specific circumstances. If accepted, this extension would be included in the legislation.