Part 6Bulk warrants
CHAPTER 3Bulk equipment interference warrants
Bulk equipment interference warrants
178Power to issue bulk equipment interference warrants
1
The Secretary of State may, on an application made by or on behalf of the head of an intelligence service, issue a bulk equipment interference warrant if—
a
the Secretary of State considers that the main purpose of the warrant is to obtain overseas-related communications, overseas-related information or overseas-related equipment data,
b
the Secretary of State considers that the warrant is necessary—
i
in the interests of national security, or
ii
on that ground and on any other grounds falling within subsection (2),
c
the Secretary of State considers that the conduct authorised by the warrant is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by that conduct,
d
the Secretary of State considers that—
i
each of the specified operational purposes (see section 183) is a purpose for which the examination of material obtained under the warrant is or may be necessary, and
ii
the examination of such material for each such purpose is necessary on any of the grounds on which the Secretary of State considers the warrant to be necessary,
e
the Secretary of State considers that satisfactory arrangements made for the purposes of sections 191 and 192 (safeguards relating to disclosure etc.) are in force in relation to the warrant, and
f
except where the Secretary of State considers that there is an urgent need to issue the warrant, the decision to issue the warrant has been approved by a Judicial Commissioner.
For the meaning of “head of an intelligence service”, see section 263.
2
A warrant is necessary on grounds falling within this subsection if it is necessary—
a
for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, or
b
in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom so far as those interests are also relevant to the interests of national security (but see subsection (3)).
3
A warrant may be considered necessary on the ground falling within subsection (2)(b) only if the interference with equipment which would be authorised by the warrant is considered necessary for the purpose of obtaining information relating to the acts or intentions of persons outside the British Islands.
4
An application for the issue of a bulk equipment interference warrant may only be made on behalf of the head of an intelligence service by a person holding office under the Crown.