Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)

Part 2 U.K. Lawful interception of communications

CHAPTER 1 U.K. Interception and examination with a warrant

Approval of warrants by Judicial Commissioners U.K.

23 Approval of warrants by Judicial Commissioners U.K.

(1) In deciding whether to approve a person's decision to issue a warrant under this Chapter, a Judicial Commissioner must review the person's conclusions as to the following matters—

(a) whether the warrant is necessary on relevant grounds (see subsection (3)), and

(b) whether the conduct that would be authorised by the warrant is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by that conduct.

(2) In doing so, the Judicial Commissioner must—

(a) apply the same principles as would be applied by a court on an application for judicial review, and

(b) consider the matters referred to in subsection (1) with a sufficient degree of care as to ensure that the Judicial Commissioner complies with the duties imposed by section 2 (general duties in relation to privacy).

(3) In subsection (1)(a) “relevant grounds” means—

(a) in the case of a decision of the Secretary of State to issue a warrant, grounds falling within section 20;

(b) in the case of a decision of the Scottish Ministers to issue a warrant, grounds falling within section 21(4).

(4) Where a Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve a person's decision to issue a warrant under this Chapter, the Judicial Commissioner must give the person written reasons for the refusal.

(5) Where a Judicial Commissioner, other than the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, refuses to approve a person's decision to issue a warrant under this Chapter, the person may ask the Investigatory Powers Commissioner to decide whether to approve the decision to issue the warrant.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 23 in force at 31.5.2018 by S.I. 2018/652, reg. 3(i)

24 Approval of warrants issued in urgent cases U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a warrant under this Chapter is 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.

(2) The person who decided to issue the warrant must inform a Judicial Commissioner that it has been issued.

(3) The Judicial Commissioner must, before the end of the relevant period—

(a) decide whether to approve the decision to issue the warrant, and

(b) notify the person of the Judicial Commissioner's decision.

“The relevant period” means the period ending with the [F1 third] [F1 ninth] working day after the day on which the warrant was issued.

(4) If a Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve the decision to issue a warrant, the warrant—

(a) ceases to have effect (unless already cancelled), and

(b) may not be renewed,

and section 23(5) does not apply in relation to the refusal to approve the decision.

(5) Section 25 contains further provision about what happens if a Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve the decision to issue a warrant.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 24(3) substituted (temp.) (27.3.2020) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Temporary Judicial Commissioners and Modification of Time Limits) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/360), regs. 1(2), 4(a) (with reg. 5)

Commencement Information

I2 S. 24 in force at 27.6.2018 by S.I. 2018/652, reg. 8(b)

25 Failure to approve warrant issued in urgent case U.K.

(1) This section applies where under section 24(3) a Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve the decision to issue a warrant.

(2) The person to whom the warrant was addressed must, so far as is reasonably practicable, secure that anything in the process of being done under the warrant stops as soon as possible.

(3) The Judicial Commissioner may—

(a) direct that any of the material obtained under the warrant is destroyed;

(b) impose conditions as to the use or retention of any of that material;

(c) in the case of a targeted examination warrant, impose conditions as to the use of any relevant content selected for examination under the warrant.

(4) The Judicial Commissioner—

(a) may require an affected party to make representations about how the Judicial Commissioner should exercise any function under subsection (3), and

(b) must have regard to any such representations made by an affected party (whether or not as a result of a requirement imposed under paragraph (a)).

(5) Each of the following is an “affected party” for the purposes of subsection (4)—

(a) the person who decided to issue the warrant;

(b) the person to whom the warrant was addressed.

(6) The person who decided to issue the warrant may ask the Investigatory Powers Commissioner to review a decision made by any other Judicial Commissioner under subsection (3).

(7) On a review under subsection (6), the Investigatory Powers Commissioner may—

(a) confirm the Judicial Commissioner's decision, or

(b) make a fresh determination.

(8) Nothing in this section or section 24 affects the lawfulness of—

(a) anything done under the warrant before it ceases to have effect;

(b) if anything is in the process of being done under the warrant when it ceases to have effect—

(i) anything done before that thing could be stopped, or

(ii) anything done which it is not reasonably practicable to stop.

Commencement Information

I3 S. 25 in force at 27.6.2018 by S.I. 2018/652, reg. 8(c)