Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)

Part 3 U.K. Authorisations for obtaining communications data

Relevant public authorities other than local authorities U.K.

70 Relevant public authorities and designated senior officers etc. U.K.

(1) Schedule 4 (relevant public authorities and designated senior officers etc.) has effect.

(2) A public authority listed in column 1 of the table in the Schedule is a relevant public authority for the purposes of this Part.

[F1 (2A) An authorisation under section 60A may be granted on the application of a relevant public authority listed in column 1 of the table only if section 60A(1)(a) is met in relation to a purpose within one of the paragraphs of section 60A(7) specified in the corresponding entry in column 2 of the table.]

(3) In this Part “designated senior officer”, in relation to a relevant public authority listed in column 1 of the table, means an individual who holds with the authority—

(a) an office, rank or position specified in relation to the authority in [F2 column 3] of the table, or

(b) an office, rank or position higher than that specified in relation to the authority in [F3 column 3] of the table (subject to subsections (4) and (5)).

(4) Subsection (5) applies where an office, rank or position specified in relation to a relevant public authority in [F4 column 3] of the table is specified by reference to—

(a) a particular branch, agency or other part of the authority, or

(b) responsibility for functions of a particular description.

(5) A person is a designated senior officer by virtue of subsection (3)(b) only if the person—

(a) holds an office, rank or position in that branch, agency or part, or

(b) has responsibility for functions of that description.

[F5 (5A) A person who is a designated senior officer of a relevant public authority by virtue of subsection (3) and an entry in column 3 of the table may grant an authorisation under section 61—

(a) only for obtaining communications data of the kind specified in the corresponding entry in column 4 of the table,

(b) only if one or more paragraphs of section 61(7) is specified in the corresponding entry in column 5 of the table, and

(c) only if section 61(1)(a) is met in relation to a purpose within the specified paragraph or, if more than one paragraph is specified, a purpose within one of them.]

(6) A person who is a designated senior officer of a relevant public authority by virtue of subsection (3) and an entry in [F6 column 3] of the table may grant an authorisation [F7 under section 61A]—

(a) only for obtaining communications data of the kind specified in the corresponding entry in [F8 column 4] of the table, F9 ...

[F10 (b) only if one or more paragraphs of section 61A(7) is specified in the corresponding entry in column 6 of the table, and

(c) only if section 61A(1)(a) is met in relation to a purpose within the specified paragraph or, if more than one paragraph is specified, a purpose within one of them.]

(7) Where there is more than one entry in relation to a relevant public authority in [F11 column 3] of the table, and a person is a designated senior officer of the authority by virtue of subsection (3) as it applies to more than one of those entries, [F12 subsections (5A) and (6) apply] in relation to each entry.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 70(2A) inserted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(2) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F2 Words in s. 70(3)(a) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(3)(a) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F3 Words in s. 70(3)(b) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(3)(b) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F4 Words in s. 70(4) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(4) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F5 S. 70(5A) inserted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(5) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F6 Words in s. 70(6) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(6)(a)(i) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F7 Words in s. 70(6) inserted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(6)(a)(ii) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F8 Words in s. 70(6)(a) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(6)(b) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F9 Word in s. 70(6) omitted (5.2.2019) by virtue of The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(6)(c) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F10 S. 70(6)(b)(c) substituted for s. 70(6)(b) (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(6)(d) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F11 Words in s. 70(7) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(7)(a) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F12 Words in s. 70(7) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 10(7)(b) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

Commencement Information

I1 S. 70 in force at 5.2.2019 by S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(d)

71 Power to modify section 70 and Schedule 4 U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations modify section 70 or Schedule 4.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular—

(a) add a public authority to, or remove a public authority from, the list in column 1 of the table,

(b) modify an entry in column 2 of the table,

(c) impose or remove restrictions on the authorisations that may be granted F13 ...,

(d) impose or remove restrictions on the circumstances in which or purposes for which [F14 the authorisations may be granted].

[F15 (2A) Regulations adding a public authority to, or removing a public authority from, the list in column 1 of the table may do so in relation to all or any of the following—

(a) authorisations under section 60A by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner;

(b) authorisations by a designated senior officer under section 61;

(c) authorisations by a designated senior officer under section 61A.]

(3) The power to make regulations under subsection (1) includes power to make such modifications in any enactment (including this Act) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of a person becoming, or ceasing to be, a relevant public authority [F16 (in relation to one or more of the authorisations mentioned in subsection (2A))] because of regulations under that subsection.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in s. 71(2)(c) omitted (5.2.2019) by virtue of The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 11(2)(a) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F14 Words in s. 71(2)(d) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 11(2)(b) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F15 S. 71(2A) inserted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 11(3) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F16 Words in s. 71(3) inserted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 11(4) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

Commencement Information

I2 S. 71 in force at 5.2.2019 by S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(d)

72 Certain regulations under section 71: supplementary U.K.

(1) This section applies to regulations under section 71 other than regulations which do only one or both of the following—

(a) remove a public authority from the list in column 1 of the table in Schedule 4 [F17 (in relation to one or more of the authorisations mentioned in section 71(2A)] and make consequential modifications,

(b) modify [F18 column 3] of the table in a way that does not involve replacing an office, rank or position specified in that column in relation to a particular public authority with a lower office, rank or position in relation to the same authority.

(2) Before making regulations to which this section applies, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, and

(b) the public authority to which the modifications relate.

(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations to which this section applies may not be made except in accordance with the enhanced affirmative procedure.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in s. 72(1)(a) inserted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 12(a) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

F18 Words in s. 72(1)(b) substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 12(b) (see S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(c))

Commencement Information

I3 S. 72 in force at 5.2.2019 by S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(d)