Terrorism Act 2000

8 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), an officer of at least the rank of superintendent may authorise a delay—

(a) in informing the person named by a detained person under paragraph 6;

(b) in permitting a detained person to consult a solicitor under paragraph 7.

(2) But where a person is detained under section 41 he must be permitted to exercise his rights under paragraphs 6 and 7 before the end of the period mentioned in subsection (3) of that section.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (5), an officer may give an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) only if he has reasonable grounds for believing—

(a) in the case of an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1)(a), that informing the named person of the detained person’s detention will have any of the consequences specified in sub-paragraph (4), or

(b) in the case of an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1)(b), that the exercise of the right under paragraph 7 at the time when the detained person desires to exercise it will have any of the consequences specified in sub-paragraph (4).

(4) Those consequences are—

(a) interference with or harm to evidence of a [F1 serious offence] ,

(b) interference with or physical injury to any person,

(c) the alerting of persons who are suspected of having committed a [F1 serious offence] but who have not been arrested for it,

(d) the hindering of the recovery of property obtained as a result of a [F1 serious offence] or in respect of which a forfeiture order could be made under section 23,

(e) interference with the gathering of information about the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism,

(f) the alerting of a person and thereby making it more difficult to prevent an act of terrorism, and

(g) the alerting of a person and thereby making it more difficult to secure a person’s apprehension, prosecution or conviction in connection with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

[F2 (5) An officer may also give an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) if he has reasonable grounds for believing that—

(a) the detained person has benefited from his criminal conduct, and

(b) the recovery of the value of the property constituting the benefit will be hindered by—

(i) informing the named person of the detained person’s detention (in the case of an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1)(a)), or

(ii) the exercise of the right under paragraph 7 (in the case of an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1)(b)).

(5A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5) the question whether a person has benefited from his criminal conduct is to be decided in accordance with Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.]

(6) If an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) is given orally, the person giving it shall confirm it in writing as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(7) Where an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) is given—

(a) the detained person shall be told the reason for the delay as soon as is reasonably practicable, and

(b) the reason shall be recorded as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(8) Where the reason for authorising delay ceases to subsist there may be no further delay in permitting the exercise of the right in the absence of a further authorisation under sub-paragraph (1).

(9) [F3 In this paragraph, references to a “serious offence” are [F4 (in relation to England and Wales)] to an indictable offence, [F4 and (in relation to Northern Ireland) to a serious arrestable offence within the meaning of Article 87 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989] ; but also include—]

(a) an offence under any of the provisions mentioned in section 40(1)(a) of this Act, and

(b) an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offence under any of the provisions mentioned in section 40(1)(a).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 8 para. 8(4) substituted (1.1.2006 subject to art. 2(2) of the commencing S.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 111, Sch. 7 para. 48(1)(a); S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(m)

F2 Sch. 8 para. 8(5)(5A) substituted for Sch. 8 para. 8(5) (24.3.2003 subject to certain provisions in the commencing instruments) by 2002 c. 29, s. 456, Sch. 11 para. 39(2); S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch. (as amended by S.I. 2003/531); S.S.I. 2003/210, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Words in Sch. 8 para. 8(9) substituted (1.1.2006 subject to art. 2(2) of the commencing S.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 111, Sch. 7 para. 48(1)(b); S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(m)

F4 Words in Sch. 8 para. 8(9) repealed (N.I.) (1.3.2007) by The Police and Criminal Evidence (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/288 (N.I. 2)), arts. 15, 41, Sch. 1 para. 35, Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 8 paras. 1(6), 2, 6-9, 16-19 applied (with modifications) (11.3.2005) by Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (c. 2), s. 5(8)