Hmmm, this is very strange. I logged into my web server provider's support system today and found a support ticket (now closed) headed "URGENT police request for information Grade 2 RIPA ww2airsoft.org.uk" dated 20/04/2010.
I have queried this naturally as I didn't raise the ticket but I wonder if this was just a notification to me that a request had been made. I know the police and local councils can make requests for covert surveillance but surely if it was covert they wouldn't tell me!
Anyhoo, this is specifically for the ww2airsoft.org.uk domain - I wonder if this is something to do with investigation into Mr Barratt?
Grade 2
There is a general undertaking by CSPs that when served with a notice (written or
oral) they will respond promptly within their normal office hours and the CSP may on
a case by case basis and in consultation with the SPoC make arrangements during
office hours for an out of office hours response where it is confirmed there is;
- An exceptionally urgent operational requirement where, within no more than
48 hours of the notice (written or oral) being given, the acquisition of
communications data will directly assist the prevention or detection of the
commission of a serious crime (note serious crime is as defined by See Section
81(2) of RIPA) and the making of arrests or the seizure of illicit material, and
where that operation opportunity will be lost if a communications service
provider who had been given notice (written or oral), did not undertake a
course of action for the acquisition and disclosure of communications data that
was practicable for the CSP to undertake, and it was not possible for the SPoC
to undertake the acquisition of the data by means of an authorisation (where an
on-line service is provided by the CSP); or
- A credible and immediate threat to national security or a time-critical and
unique opportunity to secure, or prevent the loss of, information of vital
importance to national security where that threat might be realised, or that
opportunity lost, if a communications service provider who had been given
notice (written or oral), did not undertake a course of action for the acquisition
and disclosure of communications data that was practicable for the CSP to
undertake, and it was not possible for the SPoC to undertake the acquisition of
the data by means of an authorisation (where an on-line service is provided by
the CSP).
whats this mean ? the filth wanted covert access to our forum?
Yup - and they have had it.
I have no idea whether this sort of thing covers ongoing access or whether they just take a data dump and sift through it. Lord only knows what they were looking for - the only thing I can thing of is something related to Mr Barratt. From my subsequent browsing this sort of demand for access is VERY common - demands of ISP for web browsing histories, demands on phone operators for call histories - hell even local authorities can make such demands. As far as I can see it doesn't need a warrant of anything similar, it is dome by 'authorised' people. 
I must say I am very uneasy about this - I'm personally responsible for the domain and everything contained within it and I have never been investigated by anyone for anything before. What's worse is not knowing why. There isn't anything untoward on this forum or the web site so I'm not concerned about 'them' finding anything illegal (because there isn't anything) but even so...
Very common occurence. Sadly, RIPA is one of the WORST bits of legislation ever written, and how its interpreted by the authorities is even worse 
It should be noted that a Warrant would have had to be served for this. It is not on an as-requested basis - and it happens VERY regularly, so nothing to worry about.
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Ah, so they do need a warrant, that's something I suppose. It still begs the question about why it was instigated though. I realise its intent was to gather transitory evidence but why hasn't anyone contacted me for questioning (all the contact details are available)? I could have given them any information they wanted along with context too, even if subsequent to data gathering. Very weird.
Could this be Gadge's lawyers seeking evidence of defamation and libel in our private section? 