Explanatory note

These Rules come into force on 1 November 2012. They make provision for the procedure governing applications under sections 23A and 23B of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for judicial approval of authorisations or notices to obtain ‘communications data’, or under sections 32A and 32B of that Act for judicial approval of notices for the use of directed surveillance and the conduct and use of covert human intelligence sources, where the application is not made in a criminal case. The provision mirrors that made in relation to applications made in criminal cases under Part 6 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2012.