Investigatory Powers Act 2016

57 Duty not to make unauthorised disclosures U.K.

(1) A person to whom this section applies must not make an unauthorised disclosure to another person.

(2) A person makes an unauthorised disclosure for the purposes of this section if—

(a) the person discloses any of the matters within subsection (4) in relation to—

(i) a warrant under Chapter 1 of this Part, or

(ii) a warrant under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and

(b) the disclosure is not an excepted disclosure (see section 58).

(3) This section applies to the following persons—

(a) any person who is an intercepting authority (see section 18);

(b) any person holding office under the Crown;

(c) any person employed by, or for the purposes of, a police force [F1 or the tri-service serious crime unit];

(d) any postal operator or telecommunications operator;

(e) any person employed or engaged for the purposes of the business of a postal operator or telecommunications operator;

(f) any person to whom any of the matters within subsection (4) have been disclosed in relation to a warrant mentioned in subsection (2)(a).

(4) The matters referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a) the existence or contents of the warrant;

(b) the details of the issue of the warrant or of any renewal or modification of the warrant;

(c) the existence or contents of any requirement to provide assistance in giving effect to the warrant;

(d) the steps taken in pursuance of the warrant or of any such requirement;

(e) any of the material obtained under the warrant.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 57(3)(c) inserted (1.5.2022 for specified purposes) by Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), s. 24(1), Sch. 5 para. 45; S.I. 2022/471, reg. 2(e)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 57 in force at 27.6.2018 by S.I. 2018/652, reg. 8(t) (with reg. 18)