The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Prescription of Offices, Ranks and Positions) Order 2000

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Prescription of Offices, Ranks and Positions) Order 2000 and shall come into force on 25th September 2000.

(2) In this Order “the 2000 Act” means the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Prescribed offices etc.

2.—(1) The offices, ranks and positions listed in column 2 of the Schedule to this Order (being offices, ranks or positions with the relevant public authorities in column 1) are hereby prescribed for the purposes of section 30(1) of the 2000 Act.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where an office, rank or position with a relevant public authority is prescribed by virtue of paragraph (1), all more senior offices, ranks or positions with that authority are also prescribed.

(3) Where an office, rank or position with a relevant public authority is described in column 2 by reference to an agency, unit, branch, division or other part of that authority, the reference in paragraph (2) to all more senior offices, ranks or positions with that public authority is a reference to all more senior offices, ranks or positions in that agency, unit, branch, division or part.

Additional offices etc. prescribed for urgent cases

3.—(1) The additional offices, ranks and positions listed in column 3 of the Schedule to this Order (being offices, ranks or positions with the relevant public authorities in column 1) are hereby prescribed for the purposes of section 30(1) of the 2000 Act, for the cases described in this article.

(2) An individual holding an office, rank or position which is prescribed by virtue of paragraph (1) may only grant an authorisation where it is not reasonably practicable having regard to the urgency of the case for the application to be considered by an individual in the same authority holding an office, rank or position prescribed by article 2.

(3) Where an office, rank or position with a relevant public authority is described in column 2 by reference to an agency, unit, branch, division or other part of that authority, the reference in paragraph (2) to an individual in the same authority is a reference to an individual in that agency, unit, branch, division or part.

Restricted prescriptions for certain cases

4.—(1) Where an entry in columns 2 or 3 of the Schedule to this Order is headed by a reference to an authorisation under section 28 or section 29 of the 2000 Act, as the case may be, the prescriptions by virtue of articles 2 and 3 apply accordingly.

(2) The prescriptions by virtue of articles 2 and 3 in relation to the Food Standards Agency and the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce do not apply for the purposes of the grant of authorisations for conduct in Northern Ireland.

Charles Clarke

Minister of State

Home Office

7th September 2000