ELIZABETH II

c. 27

Data Retention and Investigatory
Powers Act 2014
2014 CHAPTER 27
An Act to make provision, in consequence of a declaration of invalidity made
by the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to Directive 2006/
24/EC, about the retention of certain communications data; to amend the
grounds for issuing interception warrants, or granting or giving certain
authorisations or notices, under Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory
Powers Act 2000; to make provision about the extra-territorial application of
that Part and about the meaning of “telecommunications service” for the
purposes of that Act; to make provision about additional reports by the
Interception of Communications Commissioner; to make provision about a
review of the operation and regulation of investigatory powers; and for
connected purposes.
[17th July 2014]

B

E IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Retention of relevant communications data
1

Powers for retention of relevant communications data subject to safeguards
(1)

The Secretary of State may by notice (a “retention notice”) require a public
telecommunications operator to retain relevant communications data if the
Secretary of State considers that the requirement is necessary and
proportionate for one or more of the purposes falling within paragraphs (a) to
(h) of section 22(2) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
(purposes for which communications data may be obtained).

(2)

A retention notice may—
(a) relate to a particular operator or any description of operators,

Select target paragraph3