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Britain's surveillance laws are not “fit for purpose” and could allow authorities to get away with actions that are “unacceptable in a democracy,” a hard-hitting report by a cross-party group of MPs warns.

The influential Home Affairs committee, whose members include veteran Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn, launched a blazing attack on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa).

The scathing report comes after it emerged police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding points scandal secretly obtained the phone records of a journalist and one of his sources for the story, even though a judge had agreed that the source could remain confidential.

The MPs write: “Ripa is not fit for purpose, with law enforcement agencies failing to routinely record the professions of individuals who have had their communications data accessed under the Ripa. The recording of information under Ripa is totally insufficient, and the whole process appears secretive and disorganised with information being destroyed afterwards.

“Whereas we acknowledge the operational need for secrecy both during investigations and afterwards (so that investigative techniques more broadly are not disclosed), we are concerned that the level of secrecy surrounding the use of Ripa allows investigating authorities to engage in acts which would be unacceptable in a democracy, with inadequate oversight.”

Isabella Sankey, director of policy at human rights group Liberty, said: “The secret use of RIPA to investigate journalists’ sources will chill anyone who values free speech and a free press. But what’s disturbing is that the abuses detailed in this damning report are the tip of the iceberg.

“Records about your phone calls and emails builds up an incredibly detailed data-picture of every single one of us - who we are, where we go, what we do. We urgently need safeguards to stop this valuable data being accessed without judicial warrant.

“What we’re getting is the Government handing itself even more powers to snoop, in the form of the ill-targeted Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill.”

James Brokenshire, Conservative minister for immigration and security responded, saying: “A free press is fundamental to a free society and the government is determined that nothing is done which puts that at risk. Communications data is an absolutely critical tool used by police and other agencies to investigate crime, safeguard national security and protect the public.

“There are measures in place to ensure that police powers to access this data are not abused. We have also been working to strengthen the relevant code to ensure extra consideration should be given to a communications data request involving those in sensitive professions, such as journalists.

“We anticipate that the revised code will be published before Christmas and that full public consultation will take place.”

He added: “The Interception of Communications Commissioner has announced an inquiry regarding the communications data of journalists. We are cooperating fully with this review and look forward to his findings...

“The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, David Anderson QC, is also carrying out a review of investigatory powers. He will report to the Prime Minister by May 1, 2015. And the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament is reviewing the balance between privacy and security and will be publishing its findings in the spring.”