1(1)In any proceedings against a person in respect of an offence under section 45 of the M1Telegraph Act 1863 F1 consisting in the improper divulging of the purport of a message or communication or an offence under section 20 of the M2Telegraph Act 1868 it shall be a defence for him to prove that the act constituting the offence was done [F2in obedience to a warrant issued by the Secretary of State under section 2 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 or in pursuance of a requirement imposed by the Commissioner under section 8(3) of that Act].
(2)Subsection (2) of section 58 of the M3Post Office Act 1953 (warrants in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man) shall apply for the purposes of the foregoing sub-paragraph as it applies for the purposes of subsection (1) of that section.
Textual Amendments
F1Words repealed by Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12, SIF 96), s. 109, Sch. 7 Pt. I
F2Words substituted by Interception of Communications Act 1985 (c. 56, SIF 96), s. 11(3)
Marginal Citations