http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/23/section/44/2011-01-21Regulation 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 Special rules for intelligence services authorisations.441Subject to subsection (2), a warrant containing an authorisation for the carrying out of intrusive surveillance—ashall not be issued on the application of a member of any of the intelligence services, andbif so issued shall not be renewed,except under the hand of the Secretary of State or, in the case of a warrant issued by the Scottish Ministers(by virtue of provision made under section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998), a member of the Scottish Executive.2In an urgent case in which—aan application for a warrant containing an authorisation for the carrying out of intrusive surveillance has been made by a member of any of the intelligence services, andbthe Secretary of State has himself or the Scottish Ministers(by virtue of provision made under section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998) have themselves expressly authorised the issue of the warrant in that case,the warrant may be issued (but not renewed) under the hand of a senior official or as the case may be, a member of the staffof the Scottish Administration who is a member of the Senior Civil Service and is designated by the Scottish Ministers as a person under whose hand a warrant may be issued in such a case (in this section referred to as “a designated official”)3Subject to subsection (6), a warrant containing an authorisation for the carrying out of intrusive surveillance which—awas issued, on the application of a member of any of the intelligence services, under the hand of a senior official or, as the case may be, a designated official andbhas not been renewed under the hand of the Secretary of State or, in the case of a warrant issued by the Scottish Ministers (by virtue of provision made under section 3 of the Scotalnd Act 1998), a member of the Scottish Executive,shall cease to have effect at the end of the second working day following the day of the issue of the warrant, instead of at the time provided for by section 43(3).4Subject to subsections (3) and (6), where any warrant for the carrying out of intrusive surveillance which is issued or was last renewed on the application of a member of any of the intelligence services, the warrant (unless renewed or, as the case may be, renewed again) shall cease to have effect at the following time, instead of at the time provided for by section 43(3), namely—ain the case of a warrant that has not been renewed, at the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which it was issued; andbin any other case, at the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which it would have ceased to have effect if not renewed again.5Subject to subsection (6), where—aan authorisation for the carrying out of directed surveillance is granted by a member of any of the intelligence services, andbthe authorisation is renewed by an instrument endorsed under the hand of the person renewing the authorisation with a statement that the renewal is believed to be necessary on grounds falling within section 32(3)(a) or (c),the authorisation (unless renewed again) shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which it would have ceased to have effect but for the renewal, instead of at the time provided for by section 43(3).6The Secretary of State may by order provide in relation to authorisations of such descriptions as may be specified in the order that subsection (3), (4) or (5) 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.7Notwithstanding anything in section 43(2), in a case in which there is a combined warrant containing both—aan authorisation for the carrying out of intrusive surveillance, andban authorisation for the carrying out of directed surveillance,the reference in subsection (4) of this section to a warrant for the carrying out of intrusive surveillance is a reference to the warrant so far as it confers both authorisations.S. 44(1)(2)(b) modified (S.) (14.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1)(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 5 (with art. 6)S. 44(1)(2)(b): functions transferred to the Scottish Ministers (S.) (15.12.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1)(3), 3, Sch. 2 (with art. 6)Words in s. 44(1) inserted (S.) (15.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1), 4(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 8(a) (with art. 6)Words in s. 44(2) inserted (S.) (15.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1), 4(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 8(b)(i) (with art. 6)Words inserted at the end of s. 44(2) (S.) (15.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1), 4(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 8(b)(ii) (with art. 6)Words in s. 44(3)(a) inserted (S.) (15.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1), 4(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 8(c)(i) (with art. 6)Words in s. 44(3)(b) inserted (S.) (15.12.2000) by S.I. 2000/3253, arts. 1(1), 4(1), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 8(c)(ii) (with art. 6)Pt. 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))