The Minister for Security (James Brokenshire):...I have been
advised that between November 2018 and 2019 CHIS operations within
the Metropolitan police area alone led to 3,500 arrests, the
recovery of more than 100 firearms and 400 other weapons, the
seizure of more than 400 kg of class A drugs, and the recovery of
more than £2.5 million in cash. Similarly, CHIS operations in 2019
alone enabled the National Crime Agency to safeguard several
hundred victims of crime, including from child...Request free trial
The Minister for Security ():...I
have been advised that between November 2018 and 2019 CHIS
operations within the Metropolitan police area alone led to 3,500
arrests, the recovery of more than 100 firearms and 400 other
weapons, the seizure of more than 400 kg of class A drugs, and the
recovery of more than £2.5 million in cash. Similarly, CHIS
operations in 2019 alone enabled the National Crime
Agency to safeguard several hundred victims of crime,
including from child sexual exploitation and abuse. This is an
important and unique tactic; by working their way into the heart of
criminal groups, CHIS are able to access intelligence that other
investigatory powers may simply never detect...
...If I may, I shall turn to a separate point about specific
public authorities’ ability to grant a criminal conduct
authorisation. The RIPA already lists a range of public authorities
that use CHIS for general investigative purposes. Far fewer public
authorities will be able to grant a criminal conduct authorisation.
Only those public authorities that have demonstrated a clear
operational need for the tactic are able to use the power. These
are the intelligence agencies, the police, the National Crime Agency the armed
forces, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and 10 other public
authorities. Pausing momentarily on this list, I want to highlight
the role that these wider public authorities also have in
investigating and preventing serious criminal activity. The
Environment Agency, for example, investigates the illegal dumping
of toxic waste that can permanently harm our environment. The
Serious Fraud Office investigates complex fraud cases that risk
costing the public millions of pounds. The Food Standards Agency
investigates deliberate mislabelling and the sale of unsafe food to
the public. HMRC tackles the money laundering and trafficking of
illicit goods that would risk significant damage to the
economy...
(Torfaen)
(Lab):...First, I thank our police and security services,
the National Crime Agency and wider
law enforcement for the work they do in keeping us safe. Those on
the frontline put themselves in danger every day to help others, to
protect us and to prevent loss of life. That work is vital and in
the national interest, and we thank them for what they do on our
behalf. We on the Opposition Benches recognise the importance of
that work, and of covert human intelligence sources and the results
they achieve. The issue is how we ensure that vital
work continues, but on a statutory footing and with the strong
safeguards that are also vital...
...I have also considered the wider data available,
particularly on the National Crime Agency. In
2018, for example, covert human intelligence operations disrupted
threats to life, arrested serious criminals, seized thousands of
kilograms of class A drugs, safeguarded over 200 vulnerable people,
and took firearms and rounds of ammunition off the streets. I also
appreciate the role that covert human intelligence sources play in
addressing heinous crimes such as child sexual exploitation, and
organised crime such as black markets in, among other things, vital
medicine. We on the Opposition side of the House recognise the
importance of that work...
(Bromley
and Chislehurst) (Con):...The second point I wish to deal with is
the list of organisations. The obvious ones are there, and of
course they must be supported. Like others, however, I
question the need to list bodies such as the Food
Standards Agency and, up to a point, the Financial Conduct
Authority. Is this really a Bill about counteracting terrorism and
life-or-death threats, or is it actually just about enabling the
National Crime Agency—a worthy body in itself—to
deal with economic crime? That may be a legitimate concern, but I
do not think it should be put in this type of legislation, unless
it is spelled out a bit more carefully...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
|
