Direct Communications Unit

2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Switchboard 020 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4745 Textphone: 020 7035 4742

E-mail: [Home Office request email] Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

[FOI #24984 email]

Mr P John

Reference: T23161/9

Dear Mr John,

Thank you for your e-mail of 22 December 2009 about Cleveland Police in Middlesborough declining to investigate a complaint concerning the illegal and unauthorised interception.

In your letter you stated that you would like the Home Office to provide a memo to Cleveland Police stating;

- Home Office consider RIPA s1 offences are not a 'civil matter',

but a serious criminal offence attracting a custodial sentence

- Confirm RIPA s1 applies to any method of communication, including

confidential and private internet communications

- It is the responsibility of Cleveland Police in Middlesborough to

investigate complaints by residents of Middlesborough concerning

allegations of criminal misconduct under RIPA s1, including the

unauthorised use of a covert fibre tap to intercept and monitor the

content of private and confidential internet communications

Police forces are operationally independent and therefore the Home Office would not be in a position to provide a memo as requested.

Yours sincerely,

Anjna Parmar