Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

PSNI: Surveillance Powers

Wednesday 23 October 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister meets regularly with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to discuss various issues.
  • The Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office oversees the use of surveillance powers by the PSNI to ensure they are necessary and proportionate.
  • A case involving the PSNI's surveillance of journalists' telephones has been referred to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal for review.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Policing & Resources Northern Ireland
Context

The question arises from discussions with the Chief Constable about the use of surveillance powers by the police force in Northern Ireland.

Question

Whether he has had discussions with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on its use of surveillance powers.

Answer from Hilary Benn

I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his team to discuss a range of issues. While the Chief Constable has operational independence, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office provides oversight of those powers to ensure that their use is necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was whether discussions had taken place; the answer focused on general oversight mechanisms instead of confirming or denying such meetings.

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Q2 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Policing & Resources Northern Ireland Standards & Ethics
Context

A recent hearing of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal revealed that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had surveilled journalists' telephones to cover up embarrassment related to the Loughinisland massacre.

Question

At a recent hearing of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, it became apparent that the Northern Ireland police force had been caught surveilling journalists' telephones on the basis that they had received secret documents from whistleblowers. The reason for the secrecy of those documents was to cover up the embarrassment of the Royal Ulster Constabulary about its handling of the Loughinisland massacre. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the future use of surveillance powers by the Northern Ireland police?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I am indeed aware of the background to this case. The original search warrants were quashed and the police investigation was discontinued. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal is currently looking at this case, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment while that is ongoing. The Chief Constable has set up the McCullough review to look at the wider issue, and the right hon. Gentleman may well wish to make representations to that review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was for a meeting to discuss future use of surveillance powers; instead, the answer referred to existing investigations and reviews.

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