Appendix 5: Note of visit to Everything
Everywhere
1. The Committee visited the offices of Everything
Everywhere (EE) in Hatfield to hear from one of the major communications
service providers (CSPs) how they currently dealt with requests
for information under the existing legislation, and how they anticipated
the draft Bill might affect them if enacted in its current form.
2. The Committee met James Blendis (Vice President,
Legal), Jonathan Grayling (Head of Law Enforcement Liaison &
Disclosures) who had previously given oral evidence to the Committee,
Jerry Butcher (Law Enforcement Liaison Manager, Bristol), Paul
Fennelly (Law Enforcement Liaison Manager, Hatfield), David Frank
(Public Affairs Manager) and Vanessa Mortiaux (Senior Legal Counsel)
3. Mr Grayling made a presentation to the Committee.
He explained that EE prefers requests for communications data
to be made under RIPA rather than other legislation which is available
to some public bodies. He referred to the use by local authorities
of the National Anti-Fraud Network and to the good relations which
EE had with SPoCs and with the security services who submitted
high quality requests. He explained that where requests were
submitted to EE under RIPA, the onus was on the requesting body
to check that its request was necessary and proportionate—it
was not for EE to make that judgment.
4. Mr Grayling explained that his team had responsibilities
to customers to safeguard data, to minimise costs and ensure a
level playing field, and an overarching corporate social responsibility.
They worked closely with the Government, including meeting regularly
with the Home Office, and valued their partnership. But they were
concerned that the draft Bill was so wide-reaching, and did not
state on its face what would be required of them. He looked forward
to further consultation with the Home Office.
5. The costs recovery provisions under RIPA worked
well, and had not so far caused problems.
6. The Committee visited the office where requests
for communications data were received, and discussed the procedure
with Sheena Wright, the Police Liaison Team Leader, and other
EE representatives. They indicated that from their perspective
the SPoC system worked well. It involved dedicated teams and
relationships based on trust.
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