Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)
Part 2 — Lawful interception of communications
Chapter 3 — Other provisions about interception
(d)
(3)
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or to both;
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
5 years or to a fine, or to both.
In proceedings against any person for an offence under this section in respect
of any disclosure, it is a defence for the person to show that the person could
not reasonably have been expected, after first becoming aware of the matter
disclosed, to take steps to prevent the disclosure.
Interpretation
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Part 2: interpretation
(1)
In this Part—
“EU mutual assistance instrument” has the meaning given by section
10(3);
“intercepting authority” is to be read in accordance with section 18;
“international mutual assistance agreement” has the meaning given by
section 10(3);
“mutual assistance warrant” has the meaning given by section 15(4);
“police force” means any of the following—
(a) any police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act
1996;
(b) the metropolitan police force;
(c) the City of London police force;
(d) the Police Service of Scotland;
(e) the Police Service of Northern Ireland;
(f) the Ministry of Defence Police;
(g) the Royal Navy Police;
(h) the Royal Military Police;
(i) the Royal Air Force Police;
(j) the British Transport Police Force;
“relevant content”, in relation to a targeted examination warrant, has the
meaning given by section 15(3);
“relevant Scottish application” has the meaning given by section 22;
“secondary data” has the meaning given by section 16, and references to
obtaining secondary data from a communication are to be read in
accordance with that section;
“targeted examination warrant” has the meaning given by section 15(3).
(2)
In this Part references to a member of a police force, in relation to the Royal
Navy Police, the Royal Military Police or the Royal Air Force Police, do not
include any member of that force who is not for the time being attached to, or
serving with, that force or another of those police forces.
(3)
See also—
section 261 (telecommunications definitions),
section 262 (postal definitions),
section 263 (general definitions),
section 264 (general definitions: “journalistic material” etc.),
section 265 (index of defined expressions).