{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/terrorism-act-2000/section-34",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/terrorism-act-2000/section-34.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2000/11",
  "legislation_title": "Terrorism Act 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/terrorism-act-2000",
  "path": "section/34",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "34",
  "heading": "Power to designate.",
  "text": "(1) Subject to subsections (1A), (1B) and (2), a designation under section 33 may only be made—\n(a) where the area is outside Northern Ireland and is wholly or partly within a police area, by an officer for the police area who is of at least the rank of superintendent, and\n(b) where the area is in Northern Ireland, by a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who is of at least the rank of superintendent.\n(1A) A designation under section 33 may be made in relation to an area (outside Northern Ireland) which is in a place specified in section 31(1)(a) to (f) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act, by a member of the British Transport Police Force who is of at least the rank of superintendent.\n(1B) A designation under section 33 may be made by a member of the Ministry of Defence Police who is of at least the rank of superintendent in relation to an area outside or in Northern Ireland—\n(a) if it is a place to which subsection (2) of section 2 of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 (c. 4) applies,\n(b) if a request has been made under paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of subsection (3A) of that section in relation to a terrorist investigation and it is a place where he has the powers and privileges of a constable by virtue of that subsection as a result of the request, or\n(c) if a request has been made under paragraph (c) of that subsection in relation to a terrorist investigation and it is a place described in subsection 1A of this section.\n(1C) But a designation under section 33 may not be made by—\n(a) a member of the British Transport Police Force, or\n(b) a member of the Ministry of Defence Police,\nin any other case.\n(2) A constable who is not of the rank required by subsection (1) may make a designation if he considers it necessary by reason of urgency.\n(3) Where a constable makes a designation in reliance on subsection (2) he shall as soon as is reasonably practicable—\n(a) make a written record of the time at which the designation was made, and\n(b) ensure that a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent is informed.\n(4) An officer who is informed of a designation in accordance with subsection (3)(b)—\n(a) shall confirm the designation or cancel it with effect from such time as he may direct, and\n(b) shall, if he cancels the designation, make a written record of the cancellation and the reason for it.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 34(1) substituted (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, s. 101, Sch. 7 para. 30(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 34(1A)-(1C) inserted (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, s. 101, Sch. 7 para. 30(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 34(1A) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), art. 12(6)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 34(1B)(c) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), art. 12(6)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 34 amended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), s. 73(1), Sch. 5 para. 4(1)(2)(k) (with s. 72); S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(ddd)(jjj)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/section/34",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:11:32.802855+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "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."
  }
}