http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/23/section/1/2011-01-21Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000An Act to make provision for and about the interception of communications, the acquisition and disclosure of data relating to communications, the carrying out of surveillance, the use of covert human intelligence sources and the acquisition of the means by which electronic data protected by encryption or passwords may be decrypted or accessed; to provide for Commissioners and a tribunal with functions and jurisdiction in relation to those matters, to entries on and interferences with property or with wireless telegraphy and to the carrying out of their functions by the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Headquarters; and for connected purposes.2000-07-28texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-102011-01-21 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000s. 30(6A)-(6D)Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016Deddf Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Cymru) 2016s. 187(2)(b)s. 194(2)Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000Sch. 1 para. 16A and cross-headingTax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016Deddf Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Cymru) 2016s. 187(3)s. 194(2)Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 20HEnergy Act 2013Sch. 12 para. 74s. 156(1)Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000Sch. 1 para. 27CA and cross-headingThe Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026Sch. 2 para. 11(c)(ii)reg. 1(2) Part IChapter I11It shall be an offence for a person intentionally and without lawful authority to intercept, at any place in the United Kingdom, any communication in the course of its transmission by means of—aa public postal service; orba public telecommunication system.2It shall be an offence for a person—aintentionally and without lawful authority, andbotherwise than in circumstances in which his conduct is excluded by subsection (6) from criminal liability under this subsection,to intercept, at any place in the United Kingdom, any communication in the course of its transmission by means of a private telecommunication system.3Any interception of a communication which is carried out at any place in the United Kingdom by, or with the express or implied consent of, a person having the right to control the operation or the use of a private telecommunication system shall be actionable at the suit or instance of the sender or recipient, or intended recipient, of the communication if it is without lawful authority and is either—aan interception of that communication in the course of its transmission by means of that private system; orban interception of that communication in the course of its transmission, by means of a public telecommunication system, to or from apparatus comprised in that private telecommunication system.4Where the United Kingdom is a party to an international agreement which—arelates to the provision of mutual assistance in connection with, or in the form of, the interception of communications,brequires the issue of a warrant, order or equivalent instrument in cases in which assistance is given, andcis designated for the purposes of this subsection by an order made by the Secretary of State,it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to secure that no request for assistance in accordance with the agreement is made on behalf of a person in the United Kingdom to the competent authorities of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom except with lawful authority.5Conduct has lawful authority for the purposes of this section if, and only if—ait is authorised by or under section 3 or 4;bit takes place in accordance with a warrant under section 5 (“an interception warrant”); orcit is in exercise, in relation to any stored communication, of any statutory power that is exercised (apart from this section) for the purpose of obtaining information or of taking possession of any document or other property;and conduct (whether or not prohibited by this section) which has lawful authority for the purposes of this section by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) shall also be taken to be lawful for all other purposes.6The circumstances in which a person makes an interception of a communication in the course of its transmission by means of a private telecommunication system are such that his conduct is excluded from criminal liability under subsection (2) if—ahe is a person with a right to control the operation or the use of the system; orbhe has the express or implied consent of such a person to make the interception.7A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall be liable—aon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both;bon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.8No proceedings for any offence which is an offence by virtue of this section shall be instituted—ain England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions;bin Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.S. 1 wholly in force; S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 83(2); S. 1 except for subsection (3) in force at 2.10.2000 and S. 1(3) in force at 24.10.2000 by S.I. 2000/2543, arts. 3, 4