Article 26 Retention of materialI1
United Kingdom
The commandant shall not retain any intercepted material for a period longer than three months beginning with the day on which the material was intercepted or obtained unless he is satisfied that continued retention of it is—
necessary on grounds specified in rule 23(4); and
proportionate to what is sought to be achieved by the continued retention.
Where such material is retained for longer than three months pursuant to paragraph (1), the commandant shall review its continued retention at periodic intervals until such time as it is no longer held by the commandant.
The first review conducted pursuant to paragraph (2), shall take place not more than three months after the decision to retain the material taken pursuant to paragraph (1) above, and subsequent reviews shall take place not more than three months after the last review conducted pursuant to paragraph (2).
If the commandant, on a review conducted pursuant to paragraph (2) or at any other time, is not satisfied that the continued retention of the material satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph (1), he shall arrange for the material to be destroyed.