<p>Our law enforcement and security and intelligence agencies have access to a range of investigatory powers in order to be able to protect national security and to prevent and detect crime. The sharing of surveillance material between one public authority and another is permitted where necessary for action to be taken on it, and subject to robust safeguards.</p><p>It is an operational matter for law enforcement and the security and intelligence agencies to assess and determine both how to deploy their resources and the extent to which intelligence should be shared for other purposes.</p>