The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend Schedule 4 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25). That Schedule sets out the public authorities, other than local authorities, who may exercise powers under Part 3 of that Act to obtain communications data, the statutory purposes for which the communications data may be obtained, the type of communications data which may be obtained, and the designated senior officers within those authorities who may authorise the obtaining of communications data internally in an urgent case.

Regulation 2 amends Schedule 4 so that the Civil Nuclear Constabulary has the power to obtain communications data (defined in section 261(5) of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016), where it is wholly or partly events data, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, and in any other case, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder.

The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is given the power to obtain all types of communications data in the interests of national security, in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom so far as those interests are also relevant to the interests of national security, and for the purpose of preventing death or injury or any damage to a person’s physical or mental health, or of mitigating any injury or damage to a person’s physical or mental health.

An Inspector within the Civil Nuclear Constabulary may authorise the obtaining of entity data only and a Superintendent within the Civil Nuclear Constabulary may authorise the obtaining of all types of communications data.

An amendment is made to reflect the name change of the Department of Health to the Department of Health and Social Care.

An amendment is made to the description of the minimum office, rank or position which must be held by a designated senior officer within the Ministry of Justice to reflect an organisational change.

An amendment is made to correct the reference to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch within the Department for Transport.

The Environment Agency is given the power to obtain communications data, where it is wholly or partly events data, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, and in any other case, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder. It is also given the power to obtain all types of communications data in the interests of public safety.

An amendment is made to the description of the minimum office, rank or position which must be held by a designated senior officer within the Office of the Information Commissioner to reflect an organisational change.

The Insolvency Service is given the power to obtain communications data, where it is wholly or partly events data, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, and in any other case, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder.

The UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping is given the power to obtain events data, and entity data in the interests of national security.

An amendment is made to the entry for the National Health Service Business Services Authority to reflect the transfer of its functions to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and amendments are accordingly made to the description of the minimum office, rank or position which must be held by a designated senior officer within this authority.

Finally, the Pensions Regulator is given the power to obtain communications data, where it is wholly or partly events data, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, and in any other case, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.