Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25) – Section 132 – Duty not to make unauthorised disclosures

Sections

Section 132Duty not to make unauthorised disclosures

(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 a warrant under this Part, and
(b)
the disclosure is not an excepted disclosure (see section 133).

(3) This section applies to the following persons—

(a)
any person who may apply for a warrant under this Part;
(b)
any person holding office under the Crown;
(c)
any person employed by, or for the purposes of, a police force;
(d)
any telecommunications operator;
(e)
any person employed or engaged for the purposes of any business of a telecommunications operator;
(f)
any person to whom any of the matters within subsection (4) have been disclosed in relation to a warrant under this Part.

(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 in a form which identifies it as having been obtained under a warrant under this Part.

Annotations

Commencement Information

I1 S. 132 in force at 27.6.2018 by S.I. 2018/652, reg. 9(r)

https://ipa.digiphile.law/article/article-132.html

Text as at 7 October 2026.

This is an unofficial convenience version of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in October 2026.