Guidance

Covert human intelligence sources: draft code of practice

Factsheets and draft amendments to the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) Code of Practice.

Documents

Covert Human Intelligence Sources Draft Revised Code of Practice

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Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill Factsheet

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Covert Human Intelligence Sources: Criminal Conduct Authorisation Process factsheet

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Juvenile CHIS factsheet

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Limits of Authorised Conduct

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Operational Case Studies

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Oversight and Safeguards

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Public Authorities able to authorise CHIS Criminal Conduct Authorisations

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Covert Human Intelligence Sources: Use and Conduct Authorisation Process factsheet

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Details

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) Code of Practice provides guidance to public authorities authorising CHIS under part 2 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000.

The draft code has been published to assist parliamentary consideration of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill, which was introduced into the House of Commons on 24 September 2020.

This draft illustrates:

  • the likely form of amendments that the government plans to make to the code of practice to reflect the changes to the authorisation of CHIS participation in criminal conduct contained in the Bill
  • the safeguards applicable to the authorisation of juvenile CHIS.

This draft does not replace the existing code of practice at this stage. The draft code will be formally updated and consulted on once the Bill has been enacted.

The factsheets provide more information about the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill.

Updates to this page

Published 24 September 2020
Last updated 11 January 2021 + show all updates
  1. Added covert human intelligence sources: use and conduct authorisation process and covert human intelligence sources: criminal conduct authorisation process factsheets.

  2. Updated covert human intelligence sources draft revised code of practice to January 2021 edition.

  3. Added Juvenile CHIS factsheet.

  4. Added factsheets and case studies document.

  5. First published.

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