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Part 2Regulation of surveillance

CHAPTER 2Safeguards for certain surveillance under RIPA

38Judicial approval for directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources

(1)After section 32 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (authorisation of surveillance and human intelligence sources: intrusive surveillance) insert—

Authorisations requiring judicial approval
32AAuthorisations requiring judicial approval

(1)This section applies where a relevant person has granted an authorisation under section 28 or 29.

(2)The authorisation is not to take effect until such time (if any) as the relevant judicial authority has made an order approving the grant of the authorisation.

(3)The relevant judicial authority may give approval under this section to the granting of an authorisation under section 28 if, and only if, the relevant judicial authority is satisfied that—

(a)at the time of the grant—

(i)there were reasonable grounds for believing that the requirements of section 28(2) were satisfied in relation to the authorisation, and

(ii)the relevant conditions were satisfied in relation to the authorisation, and

(b)at the time when the relevant judicial authority is considering the matter, there remain reasonable grounds for believing that the requirements of section 28(2) are satisfied in relation to the authorisation.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) the relevant conditions are—

(a)in relation to a grant by an individual holding an office, rank or position in a local authority in England or Wales, that—

(i)the individual was a designated person for the purposes of section 28,

(ii)the grant of the authorisation was not in breach of any restrictions imposed by virtue of section 30(3), and

(iii)any other conditions that may be provided for by an order made by the Secretary of State were satisfied,

(b)in relation to a grant, for any purpose relating to a Northern Ireland excepted or reserved matter, by an individual holding an office, rank or position in a district council in Northern Ireland, that—

(i)the individual was a designated person for the purposes of section 28,

(ii)the grant of the authorisation was not in breach of any restrictions imposed by virtue of section 30(3), and

(iii)any other conditions that may be provided for by an order made by the Secretary of State were satisfied, and

(c)in relation to any other grant by a relevant person, that any conditions that may be provided for by an order made by the Secretary of State were satisfied.

(5)The relevant judicial authority may give approval under this section to the granting of an authorisation under section 29 if, and only if, the relevant judicial authority is satisfied that—

(a)at the time of the grant—

(i)there were reasonable grounds for believing that the requirements of section 29(2), and any requirements imposed by virtue of section 29(7)(b), were satisfied in relation to the authorisation, and

(ii)the relevant conditions were satisfied in relation to the authorisation, and

(b)at the time when the relevant judicial authority is considering the matter, there remain reasonable grounds for believing that the requirements of section 29(2), and any requirements imposed by virtue of section 29(7)(b), are satisfied in relation to the authorisation.

(6)For the purposes of subsection (5) the relevant conditions are—

(a)in relation to a grant by an individual holding an office, rank or position in a local authority in England or Wales, that—

(i)the individual was a designated person for the purposes of section 29,

(ii)the grant of the authorisation was not in breach of any prohibition imposed by virtue of section 29(7)(a) or any restriction imposed by virtue of section 30(3), and

(iii)any other conditions that may be provided for by an order made by the Secretary of State were satisfied,

(b)in relation to a grant, for any purpose relating to a Northern Ireland excepted or reserved matter, by an individual holding an office, rank or position in a district council in Northern Ireland, that—

(i)the individual was a designated person for the purposes of section 29,

(ii)the grant of the authorisation was not in breach of any prohibition imposed by virtue of section 29(7)(a) or any restriction imposed by virtue of section 30(3), and

(iii)any other conditions that may be provided for by an order made by the Secretary of State were satisfied, and

(c)in relation to any other grant by a relevant person, that any conditions that may be provided for by an order made by the Secretary of State were satisfied.

(7)In this section—

(8)No order of the Secretary of State—

(a)may be made under subsection (7) unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House;

(b)may be made under this section so far as it makes provision which would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament if it were contained in an Act of the Scottish Parliament;

(c)may be made under this section so far as it makes provision which, if it were contained in an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, would be within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly and would deal with a Northern Ireland transferred matter.

32BProcedure for judicial approval

(1)The public authority with which the relevant person holds an office, rank or position may apply to the relevant judicial authority for an order under section 32A approving the grant of an authorisation.

(2)The applicant is not required to give notice of the application to—

(a)any person to whom the authorisation relates, or

(b)such a person’s legal representatives.

(3)Where, on an application under this section, the relevant judicial authority refuses to approve the grant of the authorisation concerned, the relevant judicial authority may make an order quashing the authorisation.

(4)In this section “relevant judicial authority” and “relevant person” have the same meaning as in section 32A.

(2)In section 43 of that Act (general rules about grant, renewal and duration of authorisations)—

(a)after subsection (6) insert—

(6A)The relevant judicial authority (within the meaning given by subsection (7) of section 32A) shall not make an order under that section approving the renewal of an authorisation for the conduct or the use of a covert human intelligence source unless the relevant judicial authority—

(a)is satisfied that a review has been carried out of the matters mentioned in subsection (7) below, and

(b)has, for the purpose of deciding whether to make the order, considered the results of that review., and

(b)in subsection (7) for “subsection (6)” substitute “subsections (6) and (6A)”.