• Background to the operation in question:
– Description of the communications to be intercepted, details of
the CSP(s) and an assessment of the feasibility of the operation
where this is relevant;18 and
– Description of the conduct to be authorised, which must be
restricted to the interception of external communications, or the
conduct (including the interception of other communications
not specifically identified by the warrant as foreseen under
section 5(6)(a) of RIPA) it is necessary to undertake in order to
carry out what is authorised or required by the warrant, and the
obtaining of related communications data.
• The certificate that will regulate examination of intercepted
material;
• An explanation of why the interception is considered to be
necessary for one or more of the section 5(3) purposes;
• A consideration of why the conduct to be authorised by the warrant
is proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by that conduct;
• Where an application is urgent, supporting justification;
• An assurance that intercepted material will be read, looked at or
listened to only so far as it is certified and it meets the conditions of
sections 16(2)-16(6) of RIPA; and
• An assurance that all material intercepted will be handled in
accordance with the safeguards required by sections 15 and 16 of
RIPA (see paragraphs 7.2 and 7.10 respectively).
Authorisation of a section 8(4) warrant
6.11. Before issuing a warrant under section 8(4), the Secretary of
State must believe the warrant is necessary:
• In the interests of national security;
• For the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime; or
• For the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the
UK so far as those interests are also relevant to the interests of
national security.
18 This assessment is normally based upon information provided by the relevant communications service
provider.
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