division_name: Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill &#8212; Clause 1 - Authorisation of Criminal Conduct
motion: <p class="indent" pid="a424.5/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Without the contribution of human agents, be in no doubt, many of these attacks would not have been prevented&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a427.3/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;In one&#8230;case, a juvenile was carrying out activity on behalf of a &#8216;county line&#8217; drug supply group&#8221;&#8212;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a427.3/5" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;approached the police wishing to provide information. A referral under the Modern Slavery Act was made by the police and a care plan was drawn up with Children&#8217;s Services, including relocating the juvenile and finding them a training course. Once this had been done, as an authorised CHIS, the juvenile was able to provide intelligence to the police regarding the &#8216;county line&#8217; crime group.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a427.3/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;where all other methods to gain information have been exhausted&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a433.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;While there are, rightly, concerns that criminal activity may somehow be being legitimised, the need for such authorisations is clear. What is key is that authorisations are properly circumscribed, used only when necessary and proportionate, and subject to proper scrutiny.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a436.0/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;it is expected that the person granting the authorisation should hold a reasonable belief that the authorisation is necessary and proportionate.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a436.0/9" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;it is very important to make sure that the language of the statute is clear. Nothing could be less desirable than the language of paragraph 6.4&#8230;using the words &#8216;it is expected&#8217;&#8221;.&#8212;[Official Report, House of Lords, <phrase class="date" code="2021-01-11">11 January</phrase> 2021; Vol. 809, c. 553.]</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a453.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;economic well-being of the United Kingdom.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a454.0/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;In one such case, a juvenile was carrying out activity on behalf of a &#8216;county line&#8217; drug supply group. The juvenile owed money to the group and approached the police wishing to provide information. A referral under the Modern Slavery Act was made by the police and a care plan was drawn up with Children&#8217;s Services, including relocating the juvenile and finding them a training course. Once this had been done, as an authorised CHIS, the juvenile was able to provide intelligence to the police regarding the &#8216;county line&#8217; crime group.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a456.0/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;a continuation of existing practice&#8221;</p>