Part 2Lawful interception of communications

CHAPTER 1Interception and examination with a warrant

Further provision about warrants

I132Duration of warrants

1

A warrant under this Chapter ceases to have effect at the end of the relevant period (see subsection (2)), unless—

a

it is renewed before the end of that period (see section 33), or

b

it is cancelled or otherwise ceases to have effect before the end of that period (see sections 24 and 39).

2

In this section “the relevant period”—

a

in the case of an urgent warrant which has not been renewed, means the period ending with the F1fifthF112th working day after the day on which the warrant was issued;

b

in any other case, means the period of 6 months beginning with—

i

the day on which the warrant was issued, or

ii

in the case of a warrant that has been renewed, the day after the day at the end of which the warrant would have ceased to have effect if it had not been renewed.

3

For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) a warrant is an “urgent warrant” if—

a

the warrant was issued without the approval of a Judicial Commissioner, and

b

the person who decided to issue the warrant considered that there was an urgent need to issue it.