DHA Respond on RIPA

This published by the Celtic League:

DHA Respond on RIPA

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Isle of Man Minister for Home Affairs, Juan Watterson, has responded to a query from the Celtic League about the legislation which TV licensing detection personnel use on their ‘sorties’ into the Isle of Man.

The League had asked if the controversial United Kingdom, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) was used on the Island.

The DHA say it has not been extended to this jurisdiction.

The full text of their letter is set out below:

“26th January 2015

Dear Mr Moffatt

TV Licensing

Thank you for your letter dated 17th January 2015 with regard to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) [of Parliament], which does not apply in the Isle of Man, and TV licensing enforcement.

The conduct of the BBC’s TV licensing contractors in enforcing TV licensing legislation (under the Communications Act 2003 [of Parliament], which succeeded the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 [of Parliament] as applied and extended to the Island) does not constitute surveillance under section 3(6) of the Regulation of Surveillance Act 2006 (ROSE), provided that it “…is carried out from outside the premises exclusively for that purpose”.

Yours sincerely

Juan Watterson”

The Celtic League welcomes the response from the Department. However ambiguities still remain as bizarrely RIPA (regarded as controversial by some parliamentarians in the United Kindom) does contain checks and balances which do not seem to pertain in the Regulation of Surveillance Act 2006 (ROSE), the domestic legislation referred to in the Ministers reply.

The League are doing further research on the issue and may need to seek further clarification.

A link to the Celtic Leagues original query to the DHA can be found here;

https://www.celticleague.net/news/are-tv-licence-snoops-using-ripa-on-th...

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information

05/02/15

(Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.)

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/