IPCO marks ten years of the Investigatory Powers Act at its first public conference
London, 10 November 2026
The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) today held its first public conference, marking ten years since the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Delegates from government, law enforcement, the intelligence community, civil society, media and academia met to discuss how the Act has worked in practice and what the next ten years may bring.
The Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Security Minister, gave the opening address highlighting the importance of independent oversight in protecting public safety and confidence. A panel discussion on the Act’s “licence to operate” followed, chaired by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, The Rt Hon Lord Leveson of Liverpool. The panel included Jonathan Hall KC, Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and State Threats Legislation, Dr Eliza Watt of Royal Holloway, University of London and Shehzad Charania MBE, Director of Legal Affairs and Mission Policy at GCHQ.
In his keynote address, Lord Leveson set out the key findings, concerns and themes from IPCO’s Annual Report 2025, which was laid before Parliament on 29 October 2026.
Lord Leveson said: “Ten years on, the public is right to expect that the state’s use of covert powers is properly overseen, and that oversight is itself open to scrutiny. This conference reflects a commitment to being as transparent as we can be about what we do and why it matters. Legal compliance and strong safeguards are not optional constraints. They are essential conditions for legitimacy, and for providing a ‘licence to operate’ for the intelligence agencies, law enforcement and other public authorities.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) provides independent oversight of the use of investigatory powers by public authorities, including the intelligence agencies, law enforcement and others. It was established under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
- The Annual Report 2025 is available on the IPCO website Annual Reports – IPCO
Media contact: Mannie Mann, Head of Communications and Engagement. Mobile: 07356 190877. Email: Manveer.Mann3@ipco.org.uk