[OF1975]

One thing that has me stumped so far is from the register story where it says:

"BT customers who have attempted to report the secret listening and profiling experiments to the police have been told to approach the Home Office. One was subsequently told over email by an official: "It is important to remember that private companies such as ISPs are allowed to do certain things under section 3 of [the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act] that Law Enforcement Agencies cannot do without permission."

Now, with the caveat that law isn't my strong point, I fail to see anything in section 3 of RIPA that would get the ISPs of the hook on this one. Am I missing something or are the Home Office just using any old excuse to try avoid doing their duty on this issue?