This text provides a clear and accessible introduction to the Investigatory Powers Act, a foundational piece of UK national security law. This act repeals part I, chapters 1 and 2 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and other surveillance legislation. This new legislation is the blueprint for how state agencies, the police, and internet and telephone companies protect privacy and extract data and information to protect the public from terrorism and is used to prosecute serious criminals. This legislation implements some parts of the recent comprehensive report by David Anderson QC, A Question of Trust: Report of the Investigatory Powers Review, it will put the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 on a substantive footing and attempt to bring existing legislation up to date to reflect technological advances. The passage of the bill was highly controversial and subject to considerable public criticism by the media and civil liberties and human rights groups as well as lobbying by insiders from the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service, GCHQ and the police. The Joint Committee on the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill criticised the Bill's definition of 'data' as "unclear, unhelpful, and recursive" and expressed concerns about the meaning of the term 'Internet Connection Record' as well as the Home Secretary's failure to make sufficient case as to the feasibility of their collection, retention, and use by law enforcement. All of these issues indicate the questions that practitioners will have to face when In the absence of other sources of reliable interpretation for practitioners, this Blackstone's Guide is essential in helping readers navigate and understand the new and complex set of provisions.

This text provides a clear and accessible introduction to the Investigatory Powers Act, a foundational piece of UK national security law. This act is a blueprint for how state agencies, the police, and internet and telephone companies protect privacy and extract data to protect the public from terrorism and is used to prosecute serious criminals.

The third edition of Covert Investigation continues to provide a practical, straightforward guide for anyone working in the area of covert investigation. This edition is updated to include significant amendments to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 brought about by the Police and Crime Act 2009, as well as revisions to the Codes of Practice. Also included are discussions reflecting the considerations of Parliamentary and Home Office reviews of surveillance practice and law: reviews undertaken in response to practitioner concerns about the RIPA authority regime and wider public concerns about an emerging surveillance society. The book contains all the relevant legislation, codes of practice and case-law relating to covert investigation methods and examines the issues that investigators need to consider when deploying such investigative tools, concentrating on the full implications of RIPA with regards to daily, routine policing activity. The authors consider each different aspect of covert investigation in turn, discussing statutory provision and introducing case law alongside investigation management issues. It successfully demystifies an area of investigation and enforcement that has hitherto been poorly understood. It is intended to assist those planning and supervising investigations and those with a statutory obligation to sanction applications for authorised covert investigation or withhold such authority. It will help officers improve the quality of RIPA applications and ensure that applications for cover investigation are made only in appropriate circumstances. In particular, the third edition looks at incontrovertible evidence, the strict statutory and procedural frameworks governing collection of such evidence, and how to minimize the risk of unwitting abuse of these powers and procedures which can lead to technical acquittals and procedural challenges at court. The book forms part of the Blackstone's Practical Policing Series. The series, aimed at junior to middle ranking officers, consists of practical guides containing clear and detailed explanations of the relevant legislation and practice, accompanied by case studies, illustrative diagrams and useful checklists.

The Blackstone's Guide Series delivers concise and accessible books covering the latest legislative changes and amendments. Published soon after an Act they offer expert commentary by leading names on the effects, extent and scope of the legislation, plus a full copy of the Act itself. Theyoffer a cost-effective solution to key information needs and are the perfect companion for any practitioner needing to get up to speed with the latest changes.The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) came into force in February 2003, introducing a new anti-money laundering regime. It created the Asset Recovery Agency; introduced wide new powers in relation to the confiscation of criminal property; as well as new civil recovery and enforcement powers.The third edition provides a clear and accessible exploration of POCA, which has been completely updated to include all recent developments notably; the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA), the Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 and the Fraud Act 2006. It includes the full updated text ofPOCA 2002, plus other essential materials. Included are the Crown Court Rules governing procedures, forms and timetables, and Codes of Practice dealing with search, seizure warrants and production and disclosure orders.

This book contends that modern concerns surrounding the UK State’s investigation of communications (and, more recently, data), whether at rest or in transit, are in fact nothing new. It evidences how, whether using common law, the Royal Prerogative, or statutes to provide a lawful basis for a state practice traceable to at least 1324, the underlying policy rationale has always been that first publicly articulated in Cromwell’s initial Postage Act 1657, namely the protection of British ‘national security’, broadly construed. It further illustrates how developments in communications technology led to Executive assumptions of relevant investigatory powers, administered in conditions of relative secrecy. In demonstrating the key role played throughout history by communications service providers, the book also charts how the evolution of the UK Intelligence Community, entry into the ‘UKUSA’ communications intelligence-sharing agreement 1946, and intelligence community advocacy all significantly influenced the era of arguably disingenuous statutory governance of communications investigation between 1984 and 2016. The book illustrates how the 2013 ‘Intelligence Shock’ triggered by publication of Edward Snowden’s unauthorized disclosures impelled a transition from Executive secrecy and statutory disingenuousness to a more consultative, candid Executive and a policy of ‘transparent secrecy’, now reflected in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. What the book ultimately demonstrates is that this latest comprehensive statute, whilst welcome for its candour, represents only the latest manifestation of the British state’s policy of ensuring protection of national security by granting powers enabling investigative access to communications and data, in transit or at rest, irrespective of location.

[This convenience copy of the official report by the UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, made available under OGLv3 on a cost-only basis] Modern communications networks can be used by the unscrupulous for purposes ranging from cyber-attack, terrorism and espionage to fraud, kidnap and child sexual exploitation. A successful response to these threats depends on entrusting public bodies with the powers they need to identify and follow suspects in a borderless online world. But trust requires verification. Each intrusive power must be shown to be necessary, clearly spelled out in law, limited in accordance with international human rights standards and subject to demanding and visible safeguards. The current law is fragmented, obscure, under constant challenge and variable in the protections that it affords the innocent. It is time for a clean slate. This Report aims to help Parliament achieve a world-class framework for the regulation of these strong and vital powers.

The discussion of the norm of the rule of law has broken out of the confines of jurisprudence and is of growing interest to many non-legal researchers. A range of issues are explored in this volume that will help non-specialists with an interest in the rule of law develop a nuanced understanding of its character and political implications. It is explicitly aimed at those who know the rule of law is important and while having little legal background, would like to know more about the norm.