About RIPA
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Forms
Information about the forms that RIPA practitioners need to complete.
Use of RIPA forms
Decisions about using regulated investigatory powers must be recorded as they are made.
This is the case for:
- applicants seeking authority to undertake regulated conduct
- authorising officers and designated persons who consider and decide whether to grant authority or give notice for that conduct
Forms to record applications and decisions in writing are available to public authorities which use RIPA. Download the RIPA forms
Adapting RIPA forms
Public authorities may use these forms or adapt them, for example to include corporate logos or images or to combine review and renewal, or renewal and cancellation forms.
However, if public authorities adapt these forms for their own purposes - to record extra information that is not strictly necessary to ensure and demonstrate compliance with RIPA - that additional local requirement should be indicated as being distinct from the necessary recording of RIPA considerations and decisions.
Review of RIPA forms
We are undertaking a review of these forms with key stakeholders, including:
- the Office of Surveillance Commissioners
- the Interception of Communications Commissioner's Office
- the Association of Chief Police Officers
- the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services
- public authorities
The review will ensure the forms are clear and easy to use, support compliance with RIPA and are flexible enough to be adapted without creating any unnesessary bureaucracy for the purpose of RIPA or for local operational management.
If you have any questions about these forms, any comments about how useful they are or would like to propose a redesigned form as part of the review process, e-mail the RIPA team.
