The Police Act 1997 (Authorisation of Action in Respect of Property) (Code of Practice) Order 1998

Made22nd December 1998

Coming into force in accordance with article 1

Whereas–

In pursuance of section 101(1) of the Police Act 19971 (“the 1997 Act”) the Secretary of State is required to issue a code of practice in connection with the performance of functions under Part III of the 1997 Act by persons other than Commissioners appointed under section 101(2) of the 1997 Act;

In pursuance of section 101(2) of the 1997 Act the Secretary of State has prepared and published a draft code of practice and has considered representations made to him about the draft and modified the draft accordingly;

In pursuance of section 101(3) of the 1997 Act the Secretary of State has laid the draft before each House of Parliament; and whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament;

Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 101(4) of the 1997 Act, hereby orders as follows:

Citation and commencement1

This Order may be cited as the Police Act 1997 (Authorisation of Action in Respect of Property) (Code of Practice) Order 1998 and shall come into force on the date on which Part III of the 1997 Act comes fully into force.

Code of Practice2

The code of practice laid in draft before Parliament on 18th November 1998 in connection with the performance of functions under Part III of the 1997 Act by persons other than Commissioners appointed under section 91 shall come into operation on the date of the coming into force of this Order in relation to applications for authorisations, and authorisations given, under the said Part III, and any action taken in pursuance of an authorisation so given.

Paul BoatengMinister of StateHome Office22nd December 1998

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings the code of practice issued by the Secretary of State under section 101 of the Police Act 1997 into operation. The code of practice applies to operations involving interference with property or wireless telegraphy authorised under Part III of the Act carried out by the police, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad.