Commentary Investigatory powers Section 6: Half yearly reports by the Interception of Communications Commissioner
57.RIPA provides for annual reports by the Interception of Communications Commissioner. This section amends RIPA to require the Commissioner to report half-yearly. As with the yearly reports, the half-yearly report must be laid before Parliament and sent to the Prime Minister. As in section 58(7) of RIPA, the Prime Minister will retain the power to exclude information from half-yearly reports. This includes when disclosure is against the public interest or for reasons of national security.