There has been much discussion in the media and elsewhere about the use and misuse of the powers granted to many public authorities under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and associated legislation. Stories about snooping on people for trying to get their children into a particular school or letting their dogs foul the street may make the front page, but they are not necessarily representative of how the powers are used in general. Sure, they should lead to questions about the implementation and effectiveness of the necessity and proportionality tests that are a mandatory part of the legislation, but there may be greater things to concern ourselves with when law enforcement and the intelligence community wish to grow and extend the use of data retention, monitoring and surveillance. This talk will give an overview of many years of practical experience and interactions with the public authorities authorised to seek access to information under RIPA, Part I, Chapters I and II.