PART 5Exchange of Information and Intelligence between Law Enforcement Authorities

Time limits55

Subject to regulation 59—

a

in an urgent case regarding a serious offence—

i

a UK competent authority must respond within eight hours of a request when the information or intelligence requested in accordance with the Framework Decision is held in a database directly accessible by the UK competent authority; but

ii

where the provision of the information or intelligence requested in accordance with the Framework Decision within the period of eight hours would put a disproportionate burden on the UK competent authority, the UK competent authority—

aa

may postpone the provision of the information or intelligence for up to three days;

bb

must immediately inform the requesting competent authority of this postponement; and

cc

must provide reasons on the form set out in Annex A;

b

in a non-urgent case regarding a serious offence—

i

a UK competent authority must ensure that a request for information or intelligence in accordance with the Framework Decision is responded to within one week if the requested information or intelligence is held in a database directly accessible by the UK competent authority; but

ii

if the UK competent authority is unable to respond within seven days, it must provide reasons for that on the form set out in Annex A; and

c

in all other cases—

i

a UK competent authority must ensure that the information requested in accordance with the Framework Decision is communicated to the requesting competent authority within 14 days; but

ii

if the UK competent authority is unable to respond within 14 days, it must provide reasons on the form set out in Annex A.