The Data Retention Regulations 2014

Retention notices

4.—(1) A retention notice must specify—

(a) the public telecommunications operator (or description of operators) to whom it relates,

(b) the relevant communications data which is to be retained,

(c) the period or periods for which the data is to be retained,

(d) any other requirements, or any restrictions, in relation to the retention of the data.

(2) A retention notice must not require any data to be retained for more than 12 months beginning with—

(a) in the case of traffic data or service use data, the day of the communication concerned, and

(b) in the case of subscriber data, the day on which the person concerned leaves the telecommunications service concerned or (if earlier) the day on which the data is changed.

(3) A retention notice which relates to data already in existence when the notice comes into force imposes a requirement to retain the data for only so much of a period of retention as occurs on or after the coming into force of the notice.

(4) A retention notice comes into force when the notice is given to the operator (or description of operators) concerned or (if later) at the time or times specified for this purpose in the notice.

(5) A retention notice is given to an operator (or description of operators) by giving or publishing it in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the operator (or description of operators) to whom it relates.