Investigatory Powers Tribunal

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is an independent judicial tribunal established in October 2000, as a result of the enactment of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, to hear complaints about surveillance by public bodies. IPT is a tribunal non-departmental public body of the Home Office.

In October 2013 Mr Justice Burton was appointed as President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal for five years until September 2018.^[1]

The IPT operates out of a Home Office building in Whitehall.^[2]

Open hearings

Hearings are often closed and made without informing the complainant beforehand.^[3]

The IPT has had the following open hearings^[4]

2003 - Kennedy, British Irish Watch and Others v. the Security Service, GCHQ, SIS and the Metropolitan Police Service

2004 - B v. the Security Service

2006 - C v. the Police and the Home Office

2006 - National Black Police Association and Others v. the Metropolitan Police Service

2008 - Frank-Steiner v. the Data Controller, SIS

2009 - Jenny Patton and Others v. Poole Borough Council

2012 - Vaughan v. South Oxfordshire District Council

2012 - BA and Others v. Cleveland Police

2013 - A Complaint of Surveillance

The following hearing was originally closed, but was made open by the release of a full transcript:

2003 - Rulings of the Tribunal on Preliminary Issues of Law

Links

Media

BBC File on 4, 2013-09-24 (mp3)
BBC interview with Mr Justice Burton, 2013-11-05 (mp3)

Reports

2015 Report, expected early 2015^[5], delayed until 2016^[6]
2012 Report (statistical), 2013-01-29
2011 Report (statistical), 2012-07-13
2010 Report, 2011-12-16

References

↑ Appointment – Mr Justice Burton, IPT, 2013-10-13
↑ 'Independent' court scrutinising MI5 is located inside Home Office, Guardian, 2014-03-05
↑ How Belhaj challenge to UK courts put spotlight on closed hearings, Guardian, 2014-01-15
↑ Hansard, 2013-11-27
↑ Additional - 2010 Tribunal report, 2014-06-29 "The next report is due to be issued in early 2015 and annually thereafter. "
↑ 2015 Tribunal report, WhatDoTheyKnow "Unfortunately the publication of the 2015 Tribunal Report has been delayed until early 2016."

[1] Appointment – Mr Justice Burton, IPT, 2013-10-13

[2] 'Independent' court scrutinising MI5 is located inside Home Office, Guardian, 2014-03-05

[3] How Belhaj challenge to UK courts put spotlight on closed hearings, Guardian, 2014-01-15

[4] Hansard, 2013-11-27

[5] Additional - 2010 Tribunal report, 2014-06-29 "The next report is due to be issued in early 2015 and annually thereafter. "

[6] 2015 Tribunal report, WhatDoTheyKnow "Unfortunately the publication of the 2015 Tribunal Report has been delayed until early 2016."

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