Part 2Lawful interception of communications

CHAPTER 3Other provisions about interception

Restrictions on use or disclosure of material obtained under warrants etc.

I157Duty not to make unauthorised disclosures

1

A person to whom this section applies must not make an unauthorised disclosure to another person.

2

A person makes an unauthorised disclosure for the purposes of this section if—

a

the person discloses any of the matters within subsection (4) in relation to—

i

a warrant under Chapter 1 of this Part, or

ii

a warrant under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and

b

the disclosure is not an excepted disclosure (see section 58).

3

This section applies to the following persons—

a

any person who is an intercepting authority (see section 18);

b

any person holding office under the Crown;

c

any person employed by, or for the purposes of, a police force F1or the tri-service serious crime unit;

d

any postal operator or telecommunications operator;

e

any person employed or engaged for the purposes of the business of a postal operator or telecommunications operator;

f

any person to whom any of the matters within subsection (4) have been disclosed in relation to a warrant mentioned in subsection (2)(a).

4

The matters referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—

a

the existence or contents of the warrant;

b

the details of the issue of the warrant or of any renewal or modification of the warrant;

c

the existence or contents of any requirement to provide assistance in giving effect to the warrant;

d

the steps taken in pursuance of the warrant or of any such requirement;

e

any of the material obtained under the warrant.