Police committed to proportionate, ethical approach to surveillance

ACC Berry said: “I would like to thank the team at RUSI for putting together such a comprehensive and helpful report. We note it chimes consistently with many findings in the recent report by David Anderson 'A Question of Trust'. 

“I am pleased to note that they recognise the importance of digital investigation to the police service and we note with strong interest their suggested ten-point test for the intrusion of privacy. Our newly-established Digital Ethics Panel is seeking to establish usable frameworks for digital practice.

“As for Recommendation 5 in the report – a national approach to policing in the digital era – we have been developing a nationally-coordinated Digital Investigation and Intelligence Programme, which includes the ongoing development of both innovative and necessary training for officers and staff working in this field.

“Finally - noting that, in the same vein as David Anderson, the RUSI report calls for legislative change to the current RIPA provisions, I would like to offer the full support of the service to those tasked with the development of such legislation.

“The police take very seriously their joint responsibilities to protect the public but not intrude on their lives except where necessary, with clear purpose, and in a proportionate manner. We are very keen to ensure that the Peelian principle of policing by consent is maintained while tackling harm to the public and threats to our security in both the physical and digital worlds‎.”

ENDS

Further info: The report may be read here - https://www.rusi.org/downloads/assets/ISR-Report-press.pdf