Covert authorities bureau (CAB)

A specialist centralised team within an organisation dedicated to managing records of how an organisation uses covert tactics.

Public organisations that use covert tactics to support investigations are required to apply for the authority to do so, in compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights. These organisations are required to maintain records of how they use and conduct covert tactics, and acquire communications data. The team managing these records is widely referred to as a covert authorities bureau.

There is no national definition of a covert authorities bureau and its function and name may vary within each organisation.

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