5.16. A copy of the warrant renewal instrument will be forwarded to
all relevant CSPs on whom a copy of the original warrant instrument
and a schedule have been served, providing they are still actively
assisting. A warrant renewal instrument will include the reference
number of the warrant or warrants being renewed under this single
instrument.
Warrant cancellation
5.17. The Secretary of State is under a duty to cancel an interception
warrant if, at any time before its expiry date, the Secretary of State is
satisfied that the warrant is no longer necessary on grounds falling
within section 5(3) of RIPA. Intercepting agencies will therefore need
to keep their warrants under continuous review and must notify the
Secretary of State if they assess that the interception is no longer
necessary. In practice, the responsibility to cancel a warrant will be
exercised by a senior official in the warrant issuing department on
behalf of the Secretary of State.
5.18. The cancellation instrument should be addressed to the person
to whom the warrant was issued (the intercepting agency) and should
include the reference number of the warrant and the description of
the person or premises specified in the warrant. A copy of the
cancellation instrument should be sent to those CSPs who have held a
copy of the warrant instrument and accompanying schedule during
the preceding twelve months.
Records
5.19. The oversight regime allows the Interception of
Communications Commissioner to inspect the warrant application
upon which the Secretary of State’s decision was based, and the
applicant may be required to justify the content. Each intercepting
agency should keep the following to be made available for scrutiny by
the Commissioner as he or she may require:
• All applications made for warrants complying with section 8(1) and
applications made for the renewal of such warrants;
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