Neutral Citation Number: [2025] UKIPTrib 9
IN THE INVESTIGATORY POWERS TRIBUNAL
Date: 31 July 2025
Before:
LORD JUSTICE SINGH (PRESIDENT)
LADY CARMICHAEL
BETWEEN:
A COMPLAINANT
Complainant
-and-
THE SECRET INTELLIGENCE SERVICE (SIS)
Respondent
1. The Tribunal ruled on an issue of law with respect to the scope of the powers conferred on the Secret Intelligence Service (“SIS”) by s.1(1) of the Intelligence Services Act 1994. Section 1(1) provides:
“There shall continue to be a Secret Intelligence Service… under the authority of the Secretary of State; and, subject to a subsection (2) below, its functions shall be-
a. to obtain and provide information relating to the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Islands; and
b. to perform other tasks relating to the actions and intentions of such persons
2. The Tribunal ruled that s.1(1) conferred on SIS the vires to engage in the tasks necessary to fulfil the functions specified in the subsection (1)(a) and (b) (obtaining and providing information relating to the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Isles, and performing other tasks relating to the actions and intentions of such persons) irrespective of whether those tasks took place in the United Kingdom or overseas.