http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/25/section/76/enactedInvestigatory Powers Act 2016enKing's Printer of Acts of Parliament2019-08-16 Part 3 76 1 Before granting an authorisation, the designated senior officer must consult a person who is acting as a single point of contact in relation to the granting of authorisations. 2 But, if the designated senior officer considers that there are exceptional circumstances which mean that subsection (1) should not apply in a particular case, that subsection does not apply in that case. 3 Examples of exceptional circumstances include— a an imminent threat to life or another emergency, or b the interests of national security. 4 A person is acting as a single point of contact if that person— a is an officer of a relevant public authority, and b is responsible for advising— i officers of the relevant public authority about applying for authorisations, or ii designated senior officers of the relevant public authority about granting authorisations. 5 A person acting as a single point of contact may, in particular, advise an officer of a relevant public authority who is considering whether to apply for an authorisation about— a the most appropriate methods for obtaining data where the data concerned is processed by more than one telecommunications operator, b the cost, and resource implications, for— i the relevant public authority concerned of obtaining the data, and ii the telecommunications operator concerned of disclosing the data, c any unintended consequences of the proposed authorisation, and d any issues as to the lawfulness of the proposed authorisation. 6 A person acting as a single point of contact may, in particular, advise a designated senior officer who is considering whether to grant an authorisation about— a whether it is reasonably practical to obtain the data sought in pursuance of the proposed authorisation, b the cost, and resource implications, for— i the relevant public authority concerned of obtaining the data, and ii the telecommunications operator concerned of disclosing the data, c any unintended consequences of the proposed authorisation, and d any issues as to the lawfulness of the proposed authorisation. 7 A person acting as a single point of contact may also provide advice about— a whether requirements imposed by virtue of an authorisation have been met, b the use in support of operations or investigations of communications data obtained in pursuance of an authorisation, and c any other effects of an authorisation. 8 Nothing in this section prevents a person acting as a single point of contact from also applying for, or being granted, an authorisation or, in the case of a designated senior officer, granting an authorisation.