Report under Section 49(1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 for the 6 months ending 30 June 2013

The Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) allows for the use of surveillance devices to investigate crime and to enable evidence to be obtained of the commission of such crime or the identity or location of the offender(s). The NSW Ombudsman is required by the Act to conduct inspections of the surveillance device records of the law enforcement agencies to determine the extent of compliance by the agency, and their individual officers, with the Act. The Ombudsman is also required to report to the Minister at 6-monthly intervals on the results of inspections. The Minister is required by s.49(2) to lay the report or cause the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within 15 days after receiving the report. This report is for the period 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013.