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Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)
Part 6 — Bulk warrants
Chapter 2 — Bulk acquisition warrants
(d)
(3)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
2 years or to a fine, or to both.
No proceedings for any offence which is an offence by virtue of this section
may be instituted—
(a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Director of
Public Prosecutions;
(b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Director of
Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
Supplementary provision
174
Offence of making unauthorised disclosure
(1)
It is an offence for—
(a) a telecommunications operator who is under a duty by virtue of section
170 to assist in giving effect to a bulk acquisition warrant, or
(b) any person employed or engaged for the purposes of the business of
such an operator,
to disclose to any person, without reasonable excuse, the existence or contents
of the warrant.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1), it is, in particular, a reasonable excuse if the
disclosure is made with the permission of the Secretary of State.
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales—
(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (or 6
months, if the offence was committed before the
commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act
2003), or
(ii) to a fine,
or to both;
(b) on summary conviction in Scotland—
(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or
(ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,
or to both;
(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland—
(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or
(ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,
or to both;
(d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
2 years or to a fine, or to both.
175
(1)
Chapter 2: interpretation
In this Chapter—
“communications data” does not include communications data within the
meaning given by section 262(3),
“senior official” means—
(a) a member of the Senior Civil Service, or