Part 2Lawful interception of communications

CHAPTER 1Interception and examination with a warrant

Approval of warrants by Judicial Commissioners

I125Failure to approve warrant issued in urgent case

1

This section applies where under section 24(3) a Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve the decision to issue a warrant.

2

The person to whom the warrant was addressed must, so far as is reasonably practicable, secure that anything in the process of being done under the warrant stops as soon as possible.

3

The Judicial Commissioner may—

a

direct that any of the material obtained under the warrant is destroyed;

b

impose conditions as to the use or retention of any of that material;

c

in the case of a targeted examination warrant, impose conditions as to the use of any relevant content selected for examination under the warrant.

4

The Judicial Commissioner—

a

may require an affected party to make representations about how the Judicial Commissioner should exercise any function under subsection (3), and

b

must have regard to any such representations made by an affected party (whether or not as a result of a requirement imposed under paragraph (a)).

5

Each of the following is an “affected party” for the purposes of subsection (4)—

a

the person who decided to issue the warrant;

b

the person to whom the warrant was addressed.

6

The person who decided to issue the warrant may ask the Investigatory Powers Commissioner to review a decision made by any other Judicial Commissioner under subsection (3).

7

On a review under subsection (6), the Investigatory Powers Commissioner may—

a

confirm the Judicial Commissioner's decision, or

b

make a fresh determination.

8

Nothing in this section or section 24 affects the lawfulness of—

a

anything done under the warrant before it ceases to have effect;

b

if anything is in the process of being done under the warrant when it ceases to have effect—

i

anything done before that thing could be stopped, or

ii

anything done which it is not reasonably practicable to stop.