Covert Investigation 6e

Covert Investigation is a comprehensive guide to deploying investigative tools under RIPA and 2016, covering directed and intrusive surveillance, property interference, and surveillance through communications. It includes practical management issues and moral issues, with helpful tools and case studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This sixth edition of Covert Investigation is a comprehensive and practical guide to the complex and often controversial field of investigative powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. It has been thoroughly revised to incorporate amendments to RIPA enacted by the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021, providing a moral and legal framework for the ethical management and implementation of covert investigations.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the issues facing authorizing officers and focuses on practical management issues from both strategic and operational perspectives, including risk management. It covers topics such as the decision-making process, the use of covert human intelligence sources, and the legal requirements for conducting covert investigations.

The second part delves into the statutory elements of covert investigations, covering directed and intrusive surveillance, property interference, surveillance through communications, and the data generated. It includes detailed discussions of the use of covert human intelligence sources, particularly the significant moral issues arising from relationship manipulation and privacy intrusion. The authors provide clear and concise guidance to ensure that applications for covert investigations are made only in appropriate circumstances and that such investigations are undertaken with integrity.

The book includes a range of helpful tools, such as scenarios, tips, and checklists, making it an essential resource for police and non-police investigators alike. It forms part of the Blackstone's Practical Policing Series, which is aimed at junior to middle-ranking officers and provides practical guides with clear and detailed explanations of the law.

In conclusion, Covert Investigation is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the conduct of covert investigations. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the legal framework, ethical considerations, and practical management issues in this field. With its clear and concise guidance, it is an essential tool for ensuring that covert investigations are conducted ethically and in compliance with the law.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 234 x 155 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192867056
Edition number: 6 Revised edition