Authorisation of certain actions
I17 Authorisation of acts outside the British Islands.
1
If, apart from this section, a person would be liable in the United Kingdom for any act done outside the British Islands, he shall not be so liable if the act is one which is authorised to be done by virtue of an authorisation given by the Secretary of State under this section.
2
In subsection (1) above “liable in the United Kingdom ” means liable under the criminal or civil law of any part of the United Kingdom.
3
The Secretary of State shall not give an authorisation under this section unless he is satisfied—
a
that any acts which may be done in reliance on the authorisation or, as the case may be, the operation in the course of which the acts may be done will be necessary for the proper discharge of a function of the Intelligence Service; and
b
that there are satisfactory arrangements in force to secure—
i
that nothing will be done in reliance on the authorisation beyond what is necessary for the proper discharge of a function of the Intelligence Service; and
ii
that, in so far as any acts may be done in reliance on the authorisation, their nature and likely consequences will be reasonable, having regard to the purposes for which they are carried out; and
c
that there are satisfactory arrangements in force under section 2(2)(a) above with respect to the disclosure of information obtained by virtue of this section and that any information obtained by virtue of anything done in reliance on the authorisation will be subject to those arrangements.
4
Without prejudice to the generality of the power of the Secretary of State to give an authorisation under this section, such an authorisation—
a
may relate to a particular act or acts, to acts of a description specified in the authorisation or to acts undertaken in the course of an operation so specified;
b
may be limited to a particular person or persons of a description so specified; and
c
may be subject to conditions so specified.
5
An authorisation shall not be given under this section except—
a
under the hand of the Secretary of State; or
b
in an urgent case where the Secretary of State has expressly authorised it to be given and a statement of that fact is endorsed on it, under the hand of a senior official of his department.
6
An authorisation shall, unless renewed under subsection (7) below, cease to have effect—
a
if the authorisation was given under the hand of the Secretary of State, at the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which it was given;
b
in any other case, at the end of the period ending with the second working day following the day on which it was given.
7
If at any time before the day on which an authorisation would cease to have effect the Secretary of State considers it necessary for the authorisation to continue to have effect for the purpose for which it was given, he may by an instrument under his hand renew it for a period of six months beginning with that day.
8
The Secretary of State shall cancel an authorisation if he is satisfied that any act authorised by it is no longer necessary.