Greenwich Council reported zero use of its surveillance powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) between January 2025 and February 2026. This information was detailed in a report presented to the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and can be found in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Update document.

The report emphasized that RIPA powers are viewed as a measure of last resort. Officers prioritize the proactive use of alternative methods for obtaining information and evidence over the use of RIPA. Consequently, no RIPA authorisations were issued during the reporting period, reflecting the council's approach to exhaust other options before considering surveillance.

RIPA powers are reserved for investigations where the offence carries a custodial sentence of six months or more. They are considered only when other means of obtaining the required information or progressing with an investigation have been exhausted or there is no other option.

The council's policy concerning RIPA was revised in March 2025, as detailed in Appendix A Updated RIPA Policy .

Greenwich Council is subject to oversight by the Office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPCO). The council was last inspected by IPCO in 2023, and an inspection is anticipated in 2026. The significance of this upcoming inspection was not detailed in the report.

Flowchart illustrating the application of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) for covert surveillance.
Flowchart illustrating RIPA application

The report was presented as part of the supplementary information for the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel meeting on April 1, 2026. Further details on the meeting agenda and public reports can be found in the Agenda frontsheet and Public reports pack.