Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)
Part 6 — Bulk warrants
Chapter 1 — Bulk interception warrants
(2)
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Before a bulk interception warrant is issued, it must be signed by the Secretary
of State.
Requirements that must be met by warrants
(1)
A bulk interception warrant must contain a provision stating that it is a bulk
interception warrant.
(2)
A bulk interception warrant must be addressed to the head of the intelligence
service by whom, or on whose behalf, the application for the warrant was
made.
(3)
A bulk interception warrant must specify the operational purposes for which
any intercepted content or secondary data obtained under the warrant may be
selected for examination.
(4)
The operational purposes specified in the warrant must be ones specified, in a
list maintained by the heads of the intelligence services (“the list of operational
purposes”), as purposes which they consider are operational purposes for
which intercepted content or secondary data obtained under bulk interception
warrants may be selected for examination.
(5)
The warrant may, in particular, specify all of the operational purposes which,
at the time the warrant is issued, are specified in the list of operational
purposes.
(6)
An operational purpose may be specified in the list of operational purposes
only with the approval of the Secretary of State.
(7)
The Secretary of State may give such approval only if satisfied that the
operational purpose is specified in a greater level of detail than the descriptions
contained in section 138(1)(b) or (2).
(8)
At the end of each relevant three-month period the Secretary of State must give
a copy of the list of operational purposes to the Intelligence and Security
Committee of Parliament.
(9)
In subsection (8) “relevant three-month period” means—
(a) the period of three months beginning with the day on which this
section comes into force, and
(b) each successive period of three months.
(10)
The Prime Minister must review the list of operational purposes at least once a
year.
(11)
In this Chapter “the specified operational purposes”, in relation to a bulk
interception warrant, means the operational purposes specified in the warrant
in accordance with this section.
Duration, modification and cancellation of warrants
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(1)
Duration of warrants
A bulk interception warrant (unless already cancelled) ceases to have effect at
the end of the period of 6 months beginning with—
(a) the day on which the warrant was issued, or