{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997/section-108",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997/section-108.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1997/50",
  "legislation_title": "Police Act 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997",
  "path": "section/108",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "108",
  "heading": "Interpretation of Part III.",
  "text": "(1) In this Part—\n“Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis” includes the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis;\n“authorisation” means an authorisation under section 93;\n“authorising officer” has the meaning given by section 93(5);\n“criminal proceedings” includes proceedings (whether or not before a court) in respect of a service offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n...\n“designated deputy” has the meaning given in section 94(4);\n“the Investigatory Powers Commissioner” and “Judicial Commissioner” have the same meanings as in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (see section 263(1) of that Act);\n“tri-service serious crime unit” means the unit described in section 375(1A) of the Armed Forces Act 2006;\n“United Kingdom waters” has the meaning given in section 30(5) of the Police Act 1996; and\n“wireless telegraphy” has the same meaning as in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 and, in relation to wireless telegraphy, “interfere” has the same meaning as in that Act.\n(1A) A reference in this Part to a staff officer of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner is to any person who—\n(a) is a member of the Commissioner's staff appointed under paragraph 7A of schedule 4 to the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, or\n(b) is a member of the Commissioner's staff appointed under paragraph 7 of that schedule to whom paragraph 7B(2) of that schedule applies.\n(2) Where, under this Part, notice of any matter is required to be given in writing, the notice may be transmitted by electronic means.\n(3) For the purposes of this Part, an authorisation (or renewal) given—\n(a) by the designated deputy of an authorising officer, or\n(b) by a person on whom an authorising officer’s powers are conferred by section 94,\nshall be treated as an authorisation (or renewal) given in the absence of the authorising officer concerned; and references to the authorising officer in whose absence an authorisation (or renewal) was given shall be construed accordingly.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "In s. 108(1) definition of \"Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis\" inserted (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(1), Sch. 4 para. 8(12) (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 108(1) substituted (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 148; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 108(1) repealed (15.2.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 12 para. 4, Sch. 14; S.I. 2008/219, art. 2(b)(d)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 108(1) inserted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), s. 272(1), Sch. 10 para. 74 (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(j)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 108(1) inserted (1.5.2022 for specified purposes, 5.12.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), s. 24(1), Sch. 5 para. 9; S.I. 2022/471, reg. 2(e); S.I. 2022/1095, reg. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 108(1) substituted (8.2.2007) by Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (c. 36), s. 126(2), Sch. 7 para. 19"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 108(1A) inserted (S.) (1.7.2016) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 1), ss. 112, 117(2); S.S.I. 2016/199, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1996 c. 16."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 108(1) modified (24.4.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Armed Forces Act 2006 (Transitional Provisions etc) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1059), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 41"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/50/section/108",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:24:18.907526+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}