Dear Sir or Madam,

In light of the HMRC's powers to instigate and pursue surveillance
activities against UK citizens (via Regulation of Investigatory
Powers Act & Serious Crime Act), please answer the following
questions or provide whatever statistics are available which
broadly match the questions given:

i)

How many times have each of the following surveillance methods been
utilised; use of email monitoring, use of telephone monitoring,
following an individual's movements, interception of mail delivered
via Royal Mail, interception of mobile phone calls, covert
listening of a person's conversation (for example via a microphone
device), retrieval of bank account records, tracking of a person's
car or vehicle?

ii)

For each of the above methods of surveillance in (i), please
sub-divide the results using the following aggregates; year, region
(tax region for example), average duration time a person is under
surveillance for.

iii)

Does the HMRC have the power to covertly enter a person's private
home?

iv)

Are these surveillance operations performed by HMRC employees or
are they subcontracted to external companies/other government
agencies? If so, which companies and agencies?

v)

Is the HMRC able to share information gained via this type of
surveillance with other agencies, and do other agencies have a
reciprocal type of agreement?

vi)

What percentage of persons subjected to this form of surveillance
are proven guilty of a crime. Please also aggregate into types of
crime.

vii)

Are HMRC staff subject to the same provisions?

viii)

Are HMRC buildings equipped with any of the following equipment;
covert microphones or listening devices, mobile phone interception
devices?

ix)

Can a person determine whether they have been subject to such
surveillance and retrieve the records obtained.

x)

What technology is used for each item in (i).

Yours Sincerely,

Dear Mr Maxwell,

I attach a reply to you recent request for information.

Yours sincerely

John Sharpe

Governance & Security

HMRC

Room 4/52

100 Parliament Street

London

SW1A 2BG

Fax 020 7147 0666

[email address]

The information in this e-mail and any attachments is confidential and may be subject to legal professional privilege. Unless you are the intended recipient or his/her representative you are not authorised to, and must not, read, copy, distribute, use or retain this message or any part of it. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately.

HM Revenue & Customs computer systems will be monitored and communications carried on them recorded, to secure the effective operation of the system and for lawful purposes.

The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs are not liable for any personal views of the sender.

This e-mail may have been intercepted and its information altered.

show quoted sections