Part IISurveillance and covert human intelligence sources

Supplemental provision for Part II

48Interpretation of Part II

(1)In this Part—

(2)Subject to subsection (3), in this Part “surveillance” includes—

(a)monitoring, observing or listening to persons, their movements, their conversations or their other activities or communications;

(b)recording anything monitored, observed or listened to in the course of surveillance; and

(c)surveillance by or with the assistance of a surveillance device.

(3)References in this Part to surveillance do not include references to—

(a)any conduct of a covert human intelligence source for obtaining or recording (whether or not using a surveillance device) any information which is disclosed in the presence of the source;

(b)the use of a covert human intelligence source for so obtaining or recording information; or

(c)any such entry on or interference with property or with wireless telegraphy as would be unlawful unless authorised under—

(i)section 5 of the [1994 c. 13.] Intelligence Services Act 1994 (warrants for the intelligence services); or

(ii)Part III of the [1997 c. 50.] Police Act 1997 (powers of the police and of customs officers).

(4)References in this Part to surveillance include references to the interception of a communication in the course of its transmission by means of a postal service or telecommunication system if, and only if—

(a)the communication is one sent by or intended for a person who has consented to the interception of communications sent by or to him; and

(b)there is no interception warrant authorising the interception.

(5)References in this Part to an individual holding an office or position with a public authority include references to any member, official or employee of that authority.

(6)For the purposes of this Part the activities of a covert human intelligence source which are to be taken as activities for the benefit of a particular public authority include any conduct of his as such a source which is in response to inducements or requests made by or on behalf of that authority.

(7)In subsection (1)—

(a)the reference to a person having the right to use a vehicle does not, in relation to a motor vehicle, include a reference to a person whose right to use the vehicle derives only from his having paid, or undertaken to pay, for the use of the vehicle and its driver for a particular journey; and

(b)the reference to premises occupied or used by any person for residential purposes or otherwise as living accommodation does not include a reference to so much of any premises as constitutes any common area to which he has or is allowed access in connection with his use or occupation of any accommodation.

(8)In this section—