(1)If it appears to a judicial authority in the United Kingdom, on an application made by a prosecuting authority, that the information which the applicant seeks to obtain is relevant to an investigation in the United Kingdom into criminal conduct, the judicial authority may request assistance under this section.
(2)The judicial authorities are—
(a)in relation to England and Wales, any judge or justice of the peace,
(b)in relation to Scotland, any sheriff,
(c)in relation to Northern Ireland, any judge or resident magistrate.
(3)If it appears to a prosecuting authority mentioned in subsection (4) that the information which it seeks to obtain is relevant to an investigation into criminal conduct, the authority may itself request assistance under this section.
(4)The prosecuting authorities are—
(a)in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, a prosecuting authority designated by an order made by the Secretary of State,
(b)in relation to Scotland, the Lord Advocate or a procurator fiscal.
(5)The assistance that may be requested under this section is any assistance in obtaining from a participating country details of transactions to be carried out in any period specified in the request in respect of any accounts at banks situated in that country.
Commencement Information
I1S. 44 in force at 1.11.2006 by S.I. 2006/2811, art. 3