- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (01/01/2014)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 01/05/2022
Point in time view as at 01/01/2014. This version of this provision has been superseded.
You are viewing this legislation item as it stood at a particular point in time. A later version of this or provision, including subsequent changes and effects, supersedes this version.
Note the term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section.
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, Section 56 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)In this Part—
“chief officer of police” means any of the following—
the chief constable of a police force maintained under or by virtue of section 2 of the M1Police Act 1996 F1...;
the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis;
the Commissioner of Police for the City of London;
[F2the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;]
the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary;
the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police;
the Provost Marshal of the [F3Royal Navy Police];
the Provost Marshal of the Royal Military Police;
the Provost Marshal of the Royal Air Force Police;
the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police;
F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“electronic signature” means anything in electronic form which—
is incorporated into, or otherwise logically associated with, any electronic communication or other electronic data;
is generated by the signatory or other source of the communication or data; and
is used for the purpose of facilitating, by means of a link between the signatory or other source and the communication or data, the establishment of the authenticity of the communication or data, the establishment of its integrity, or both;
“key”, in relation to any electronic data, means any key, code, password, algorithm or other data the use of which (with or without other keys)—
allows access to the electronic data, or
facilitates the putting of the data into an intelligible form;
“the police” means—
“protected information” means any electronic data which, without the key to the data—
cannot, or cannot readily, be accessed, or
cannot, or cannot readily, be put into an intelligible form;
F9...
“section 49 notice” means a notice under section 49;
F10...
“warrant” includes any authorisation, notice or other instrument (however described) conferring a power of the same description as may, in other cases, be conferred by a warrant.
(2)References in this Part to a person’s having information (including a key to protected information) in his possession include references—
(a)to its being in the possession of a person who is under his control so far as that information is concerned;
(b)to his having an immediate right of access to it, or an immediate right to have it transmitted or otherwise supplied to him; and
(c)to its being, or being contained in, anything which he or a person under his control is entitled, in exercise of any statutory power and without otherwise taking possession of it, to detain, inspect or search.
(3)References in this Part to something’s being intelligible or being put into an intelligible form include references to its being in the condition in which it was before an encryption or similar process was applied to it or, as the case may be, to its being restored to that condition.
(4)In this section—
(a)references to the authenticity of any communication or data are references to any one or more of the following—
(i)whether the communication or data comes from a particular person or other source;
(ii)whether it is accurately timed and dated;
(iii)whether it is intended to have legal effect;
and
(b)references to the integrity of any communication or data are references to whether there has been any tampering with or other modification of the communication or data.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 56(1): words in para. (a) of the definition of "chief officer of police" omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 33(19)(a)(i)
F2S. 56(1): para. (ca) in the definition of "chief officer of police" inserted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 33(19)(a)(ii)
F3S. 56(1): words in the definition of "chief officer of police" substituted (4.6.2007) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378, 383, Sch. 16 para. 174; S.I. 2007/1442, art. 2(1)
F4S. 56(1): paras (j) and (k) in the definition of "chief officer of police" repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 59, 174, 178, Sch. 4 para. 146(a), Sch. 17; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(hh) (subject to art. 4(2)-(7))
F5S. 56(1): definition of "the custom and excise" repealed (15.2.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 88, 92, 94, Sch. 12 para. 23, Sch. 14; S.I. 2008/219, art. 2(d)(ii)
F6S. 56(1): words in the definition of "the police" inserted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 59, 178, Sch. 4 para. 149(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10 (subject to art. 4(2)-(7))
F7 S. 56(1): words in para. (a) of the definition of "the police" substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 94(a); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)
F8 S. 56(1): words in para. (a) of the definition of "the police" omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 33(19)(b)
F9Definition in s. 56(1) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 33(19)(c)
F10Definition in s. 56(1) omitted (7.10.2013) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 94(b); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)
Marginal Citations
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: