Explanatory Notes

Counter-Terrorism Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 28

26 November 2008

Commentary on Sections

Part 1 – Powers to Gather and Share Information

Power to remove documents for examination

Section 7 – Photographing and copying of documents

29.Section 7 provides that a document removed under section 1 may not be photographed or copied except for the purposes of section 6 or to produce information stored in electronic form in a visible and legible form.

30.On return of the document, electronic copies must be destroyed and any hard copies made under subsection (1) must be returned at the same time (subsection (2)).

31.Subsections (3) and (4) provide that the persons referred to in subsection (3) can request a certificate to show that all copies have been so destroyed, made inaccessible or returned and such a certificate must be issued within three months of the request. The certificate is to be issued by the “relevant chief officer of police” as defined in subsection (5).