Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)
Part 6 — Bulk warrants
Chapter 3 — Bulk equipment interference warrants
147
(2)
Before a bulk equipment interference warrant is issued, it must be signed by
the Secretary of State.
(3)
If it is not reasonably practicable for a warrant to be signed by the Secretary of
State, the warrant may be signed by a senior official designated by the
Secretary of State for that purpose.
(4)
In such a case, the warrant must contain a statement that—
(a) it is not reasonably practicable for the warrant to be signed by the
Secretary of State, and
(b) the Secretary of State has personally and expressly authorised the issue
of the warrant.
183
Requirements that must be met by warrants
(1)
A bulk equipment interference warrant must contain a provision stating that it
is a bulk equipment interference warrant.
(2)
A bulk equipment interference 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 equipment interference warrant must describe the conduct that is
authorised by the warrant.
(4)
A bulk equipment interference warrant must specify the operational purposes
for which any material obtained under the warrant may be selected for
examination.
(5)
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 material obtained under bulk equipment interference warrants may be
selected for examination.
(6)
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.
(7)
An operational purpose may be specified in the list of operational purposes
only with the approval of the Secretary of State.
(8)
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 178(1)(b) or (2).
(9)
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.
(10)
In subsection (9), “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.
(11)
The Prime Minister must review the list of operational purposes at least once a
year.