Intelligence Services Commissioner

The Intelligence Service Commissioner keeps under review the issue of warrants by the Secretary of State authorising intrusive surveillance (e.g. eavesdropping) and interference with property in order to make sure that the Secretary of State was right to issue them.

His role is defined by statute under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (new window) (RIPA). Section 59 of the Act provides for the Prime Minister to appoint the Commissioner, who must hold or have held high judicial office within the meaning of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876. He or she is appointed for a period of three years with the possibility of re-appointment.

Like the Interception of Communications Commissioner, the Intelligence Services Commissioner reviews warrant applications and visits the Security Service and other agencies to discuss any case he wishes to examine in more detail. He must, by law, be given access to whatever documents and information he needs and at the end of each reporting year he submits a report to the Prime Minister which is subsequently laid before Parliament and published.

The Intelligence Services Commissioner is also responsible for reviewing our internally authorised use of directed surveillance (the covert monitoring of targets' movements, conversations and other activities) and of covert human intelligence sources (i.e. agents) to check that we are acting in accordance with the requirements of the law.

The Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Gibson is the current Intelligence Services Commissioner. He served as a Justice of the High Court, assigned to the Chancery Division, from 1981 to 1993 and was Chairman of the Law Commission from 1990 to 1992. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in 1993 and retired from that office in 2005. Appointed from 1 April 2006, he will serve as Intelligence Services Commissioner until 31 March 2009.

Reports of the Intelligence Services Commissioner

For a full list of all Reports published by the Intelligence Services Commissioner (new window) visit the UK Intelligence Community Online (new window).