31.RIPA was designed to regulate the use of investigatory powers and to satisfy the requirements of the ECHR on its incorporation into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998. RIPA regulates the use of a number of covert investigatory techniques, not all of which are available to local authorities. The three types of technique available to local authorities are: the acquisition and disclosure of communications data (such as telephone billing information or subscriber details); directed surveillance (covert surveillance of individuals in public places); and covert human intelligence sources (“CHIS”) (such as the deployment of undercover officers). Local authorities sometimes need to use covert techniques in support of their statutory functions. They, not the police, are responsible for enforcing the law in areas such as: environmental crime; consumer scams; loan sharks; taxi cab regulation; underage sales of knives, alcohol, solvents and tobacco; and the employment of minors. The communications data powers are primarily used by local authorities to target rogue traders (where a mobile phone number can be the only intelligence lead). Directed surveillance powers are used in benefit fraud cases and to tackle anti-social behaviour (in partnership with the police), while CHIS and directed surveillance techniques are used in test purchase operations to investigate the sale of tobacco, alcohol and other age-restricted products.
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