PHONE tapping, surveillance and covert intelligence sources continue to play a key role in tackling serious crime in Jersey, an independent review has found.
Released last week, the annual report by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner concluded that the use of these powers throughout 2024 was “lawful and proportionate” and made a “significant contribution” to preventing and detecting crime.
The review covers the use of powers such as intercepting communications, accessing phone data, surveillance operations and covert human intelligence sources.
During the year, 12 interception warrants were issued, along with 127 authorisations to obtain communications data. These were largely linked to drug offences and missing persons cases.
There were also four intrusive surveillance operations and eight property interference authorisations, mainly targeting serious crime including drug trafficking.
The commissioner, Rt Hon James Wolffe KC, said applications were generally completed to a “good standard”, with necessity and proportionality “considered with care”.
While some areas for improvement were identified, he concluded that Islanders “have good reason to be confident” that the use of surveillance powers serves the public interest.
