Lord Justice Fulford

Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office

IPCO provides independent oversight of the use of investigatory powers by intelligence agencies, police forces and other public authorities.

The Prime Minister approved the appointment of The Right Honourable Sir Adrian Fulford as Investigatory Powers Commissioner under the terms of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

Recent Activity

  21/06/2018:  Emily, Project Manager at IPCO: A year in the making Read...

  04/07/2018:  IPCO at HRBDT Conference: IPCO attends Human Rights in a Digital Age (HRBDT) Conference Read...




Announcements

  • IPCO's response to ISC report on Detainee Mistreatment and Rendition
    28/06/2018

    Today the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament published its reports on Detainee Mistreatment and Rendition. We welcome the ISC’s comprehensive report, and the Prime Minister’s invitation for IPCO to make proposals for how the Consolidated Guidance could be further improved. We will aim to consider our proposals as openly as we can and would encourage contributions from everyone who has an interest in this area.

     

    The Commissioner said: “The ISC’s excellent reports show that for a period after 9/11 the Government’s approach to mistreatment and rendition fell far below the standard I would expect to, and do, see during my inspections today. I am pleased to be taking forward the review of the Consolidated Guidance and look forward to engaging widely as part of that process.”

  • IPC Submissions on bulk powers
    24/05/2018

    On 23 May we wrote to a number of NGOs regarding bulk powers. We would welcome responses from any other interested parties. You can read a version of our letter here.

  • IPCO’s Advisory Notice on the Approval of Warrants, Authorisations and Notices by Judicial Commissioners
    03/04/2018

    IPCO is committed to being open and transparent, within the limits of the law and the constraints of the subject matter with which we are dealing. As part of this commitment to openness we are today publishing an Advisory Notice which has been issued internally, following extensive discussions with the Judicial Commissioners.

    This Notice has been agreed in order to provide a guide as to how the Judicial Commissioners will approach the information available to them when deciding whether to approve or refuse the Secretary of State’s decision to issue a warrant under IPA 2016. This is to ensure there is a clear understanding as to how the Commissioners will undertake this important task. We are clear, however, that the Notice does not bind the Judicial Commissioners in the exercise of this judicial function.

    We will keep this notice under continuous review, and it is likely it will be amended over time once we have experience of the new warrantry regime and we have received feedback.

    Download Advisory Notice