http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/23/section/43/2011-01-21Regulation 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 Part II Surveillance and covert human intelligence sources Grant, renewal and duration of authorisations General rules about grant, renewal and duration.431An authorisation under this Part—amay be granted or renewed orally in any urgent case in which the entitlement to act of the person granting or renewing it is not confined to urgent cases; andbin any other case, must be in writing.2A single authorisation may combine two or more different authorisations under this Part; but the provisions of this Act that are applicable in the case of each of the authorisations shall apply separately in relation to the part of the combined authorisation to which they are applicable.3Subject to subsections (4) and (8), an authorisation under this Part shall cease to have effect at the end of the following period—ain the case of an authorisation which—ihas not been renewed and was granted either orally or by a person whose entitlement to act is confined to urgent cases, oriiwas last renewed either orally or by such a person,the period of seventy-two hours beginning with the time when the grant of the authorisation or, as the case may be, its latest renewal takes effect;bin a case not falling within paragraph (a) in which the authorisation is for the conduct or the use of a covert human intelligence source, the period of twelve months beginning with the day on which the grant of the authorisation or, as the case may be, its latest renewal takes effect; andcin any case not falling within paragraph (a) or (b), the period of three months beginning with the day on which the grant of the authorisation or, as the case may be, its latest renewal takes effect.4Subject to subsection (6), an authorisation under this Part may be renewed, at any time before the time at which it ceases to have effect, by any person who would be entitled to grant a new authorisation in the same terms.5Sections 28 to 41 shall have effect in relation to the renewal of an authorisation under this Part as if references to the grant of an authorisation included references to its renewal.6A person shall not renew an authorisation for the conduct or the use of a covert human intelligence source, unless he—ais satisfied that a review has been carried out of the matters mentioned in subsection (7); andbhas, for the purpose of deciding whether he should renew the authorisation, considered the results of that review.7The matters mentioned in subsection (6) are—athe use made of the source in the period since the grant or, as the case may be, latest renewal of the authorisation; andbthe tasks given to the source during that period and the information obtained from the conduct or the use of the source.8The Secretary of State may by order provide in relation to authorisations of such descriptions as may be specified in the order that subsection (3) is to have effect as if the period at the end of which an authorisation of a description so specified is to cease to have effect were such period shorter than that provided for by that subsection as may be fixed by or determined in accordance with that order.9References in this section to the time at which, or the day on which, the grant or renewal of an authorisation takes effect are references—ain the case of the grant of an authorisation to which paragraph (c) does not apply, to the time at which or, as the case may be, day on which the authorisation is granted;bin the case of the renewal of an authorisation to which paragraph (c) does not apply, to the time at which or, as the case may be, day on which the authorisation would have ceased to have effect but for the renewal; andcin the case of any grant or renewal that takes effect under subsection (2) of section 36 at a time or on a day later than that given by paragraph (a) or (b), to the time at which or, as the case may be, day on which the grant or renewal takes effect in accordance with that subsection.10In relation to any authorisation granted by a member of any of the intelligence services, and in relation to any authorisation contained in a warrant issued by the Secretary of State on the application of a member of any of the intelligence services, this section has effect subject to the provisions of section 44.S. 43(3) modified (6.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2793, art. 6 (as amended (10.8.2021 for specified purposes, 15.9.2021 for specified purposes, 30.9.2021 in so far as not already in force) by Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act 2021 (c. 4), ss. 2(7), 9(2) (with s. 2(9)); S.I. 2021/605, reg. 2(a)(b)(c))S.43 applied (with modifications) (16.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1057, art. 4S. 43(3) modified (1.2.2010) by The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert Human Intelligence Sources: Matters Subject to Legal Privilege) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/3404), art. 8S. 43(3) modified (18.2.2010) by The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert Human Intelligence Sources: Matters Subject to Legal Privilege) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/123), art. 8Pt. II (ss. 26-48) applied (with modifications)(16.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1057, arts. 2, 3Pt. II (ss. 26-48): power to apply (with modifications) conferred (1.10.2002) by 2002 c. 30, s. 19(2)(a); S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(b)(v)Pt. 2 modified (1.4.2004) by The Independent Police Complaints Commission (Investigatory Powers) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/815), art. 3 (as amended (E.W.) (8.1.2018) by The Independent Office for Police Conduct (Transitional and Consequential) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1250), regs. 1, 10(6) (with reg. 37))