Wandsworth Council's Audit Committee has reviewed the local authority's use of surveillance powers, with a particular focus on investigations into blue badge fraud. The committee discussed a report detailing the council's application of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) during the 2025-26 financial year, as outlined in the document Councils use of RIPA for the year 2025-26.
Paul Gigliotti, Director of Financial Services, explained that these powers are used sparingly and are primarily employed for cases of blue badge fraud. He noted that surveillance is conducted either under the formal RIPA 'shield' or a less formal regime, depending on the specific circumstances and the evidence of fraudulent intent. The decision to use the formal RIPA 'shield' versus the less formal regime hinges on the nature of the suspected offence. If the council can evidence that the act is fraudulent, such as a badge being lost or stolen and subsequently misused, the formal RIPA shield is employed. If the badge is simply misused without evidence of fraud, the less formal regime is typically used.
During the 2025-26 period, the council utilized the RIPA shield in two cases. One investigation is ongoing, while the other resulted in the vehicle being impounded and the blue badges seized. Surveillance was also carried out on seven occasions without the formal shield, with the specific outcomes of these operations detailed in paragraph 13 of the report.
Councillor Rigby inquired about the use of facial recognition technology, to which Mr. Gigliotti responded that current surveillance involves officers using handheld equipment, cameras, or CCTV, with all activities documented in application forms. He clarified that the council's powers are prescribed by legislation and differ from those available to the police.
Councillor Kelly asked about a perceived reduction in the numbers of surveillance cases. Kevin Holland, Assistant Director for Fraud, Risk and Insurance, explained that while the number of applications might have reduced, the overall number of detected instances has not, as officers often identify multiple cases during a single surveillance operation.
Councillor Critchard raised questions about the frequency of independent checks on the use of these powers and the prevalence of blue badge misuse. It was noted that inspections by the commissioner's office typically occur every five years, but due to a five-borough partnership, annual inspections are conducted. Regarding the prevalence of misuse, it was explained that statistics on the percentage of misused blue badges are difficult to ascertain as badges may be issued by other authorities.
