Intel identity

New protection for elaborate undercover spy ops suggested

Spies and police will have new freedom to conduct elaborate undercover operations if Parliament implements the spy report's recommendations.

Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy's independent report into spy agencies the GCSB and SIS suggested new "immunities from civil and criminal liability for reasonable acts done in good faith" to protect and create spies' identity information.

Debate since the report's release last week has focussed on disputes between politicians over boosting surveillance powers, and questions of mass surveillance or metadata collection.