Roger has welcomed the news that following pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft bill by a Joint Committee of both Houses the Home Office is currently re-drafting the Bill
He was reassured that whilst the proposed legislation will help to ensure that the police can stay a step ahead of the criminals it will not:
    •    enable unfettered access by the police to data about everyone's communications;
    •    provide the police and others with powers to intercept and read your e-mails or phone calls;
    •    create a single Government database containing your e-mails and phone calls to which the police and agencies can get unlimited and unregulated access;
    •    weaken current safeguards or checks in place to protect communications data; and
    •    allow local authorities greater powers.
“Local authority access to communications data will be restricted through the Protection of Freedoms Act — which means authorities now have to apply to magistrates to obtain certain types of data. They will be given no new access to communications data under this Bill.” said James Brokenshire MP, Security Minister, in response to a letter from Mr Godsiff.
Roger believes that the news that restrictions on local authority access to communications data is to be tightened is particularly welcome in light of flagrant misuse of powers granted under previous security legislation. At the time numerous reassurances were given that such abuses could not take place.
Ministerial response:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B 9TwqUlwHK6YzhtU  lNZcFZjYUE/edit?usp=sharing

This article appeared in the March edition of Roger's newsletter 'Postcard from Parliament'