Schedules
Schedule 4Relevant public authorities and designated senior officers etc.Section 70(1)
Part 1 Table of authorities and officers etc.
Table
[F1(1) Relevant public authority | (2) Paragraphs of section 60A(7) specified | (3) DSO: minimum office, rank or position | (4) Type of communications data that may be obtained by DSO | (5) Paragraphs of section 61(7) specified for DSO | (6) Paragraphs of section 61A(7) specified for DSO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996 | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | ||
Metropolitan police force | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | ||
City of London police force | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | ||
Police Service of Scotland | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | ||
Police Service of Northern Ireland | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | ||
British Transport Police Force | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | ||
[F2Civil Nuclear Constabulary | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), and (e) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c)] | ||
Ministry of Defence Police | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), and (e) | Inspector | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) |
Superintendent | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Royal Navy Police | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), and (e) | Lieutenant Commander | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) |
Commander | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Royal Military Police | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), and (e) | Major | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) |
Lieutenant Colonel | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Royal Air Force Police | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c), and (e) | Squadron Leader | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) |
Wing Commander | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
[F3Tri-service serious crime unit | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (e) | Lieutenant Commander | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) |
Major | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Squadron leader | Entity data | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Commander | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Lieutenant colonel | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c) | ||
Wing commander | All | 61(7)(a) and (c) | 61A(7)(a) and (c)] | ||
Security Service | 60A(7)(a), (b) and (c) | General Duties 4 or any other level 4 officer | Entity data | [F461(7)(a) and (c)] | [F561A(7)(a)] |
General Duties 3 or any other level 3 officer | All | [F461(7)(a) and (c)] | [F561A(7)(a)] | ||
Secret Intelligence Service | 60A(7)(a), (b) and (c) | Grade 6 | All | [F461(7)(a) and (c)] | [F561A(7)(a)] |
GCHQ | 60A(7)(a), (b) and (c) | GC8 | All | [F461(7)(a) and (c)] | [F561A(7)(a)] |
Ministry of Defence | 60A(7)(a) and (b) | Member of the Senior Civil Service or equivalent | All | 61(7)(a) | |
Grade 7 in the Fraud Defence Unit | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
[F6Department of Health and Social Care] | 60A(7)(b) and (d) | Grade 7 in the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency | All | 61A(7)(a) and (b) | |
Grade 7 in the Anti-Fraud Unit | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
Home Office | 60A(7)(b), (d) and (g) | Immigration inspector or equivalent with responsibility for investigations or other functions relating to immigration and border security | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Immigration inspector or equivalent with responsibility for anti-corruption in relation to investigations or other functions relating to immigration and border security | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
Immigration inspector or equivalent with responsibility for asylum fraud investigations | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
Immigration inspector or equivalent with responsibility for security and intelligence in the immigration detention estate | All | 61A(7)(a), (b) and (e) | |||
Ministry of Justice | 60A(7)(b) and (d) | Manager in the [F7Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism Directorate of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service] responsible for intelligence | Entity data | 61A(7)(a) and (b) | |
Senior manager in the [F7Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism Directorate of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service] responsible for intelligence | All | 61A(7)(a) and (b) | |||
National Crime Agency | 60A(7)(b), (e) and (g) | Grade 3 | Entity data | 61A(7)(a), (c) and (e) | |
Grade 2 | All | 61A(7)(a), (c) and (e) | |||
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs | 60A(7)(b) | Higher officer | Entity data | 61A(7)(a) | |
Senior officer | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
Department for Transport [F8, other than in relation to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency] | 60A(7)(b), (d) and (e) | Enforcement Officer in Maritime and Coastguard Agency | Entity data | 61A(7)(a) and (b) | |
Head of Enforcement in Maritime and Coastguard Agency | All | 61A(7)(a) and (b) | |||
Maritime Operations Commander (Grade 7) in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency | All | 61A(7)(c) | |||
Principal Inspector in the [F9Air Accidents] Investigation Branch, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch or the Rail Accident Investigation Branch | All | 61A(7)(b) | |||
[F10Department for Transport, so far as relating to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency | 60A(7)(b) and (d)] | ||||
Department for Work and Pensions | 60A(7)(b) | Senior Executive Officer in [F11the Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt Directorate] | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Senior Executive Officer in the Child Maintenance Group Central Legal Services | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
F12... | F12... | F12... | F12... | F12... | |
[F13Cabinet Office, so far as relating to the Public Sector Fraud Authority | 60A(7)(b)] | ||||
Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service | 60A(7)(b) | Head of Counter Fraud Services | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Competition and Markets Authority | 60A(7)(b) | Member of the Senior Civil Service with responsibility for cartels or criminal enforcement | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
[F14Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks | 60A(7)(b)] | ||||
Criminal Cases Review Commission | 60A(7)(f) | Investigations Adviser | All | 61A(7)(d) | |
[F15Department for Business and Trade, so far as relating to the Integrated Corporate Services Counter Fraud Expert Services Team | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (f) | ||||
Department for Business and Trade, so far as relating to the Insolvency Service | 60A(7)(b) | Grade 7 in the Investigation and Enforcement Services Directorate – Criminal Investigation Team of the Insolvency Service | All | 61A(7)(a)] | |
[F16Department for Business and Trade, so far as relating to the Fair Work Agency | 60A(7)(b) | Grade 7 | All | 61A(7)(a)] | |
Department for Communities in Northern Ireland | 60A(7)(b) | Deputy Principal | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland | 60A(7)(b) | Deputy chief inspector in trading standards services | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
[F17Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, so far as relating to the Integrated Corporate Services Counter Fraud Expert Services Team | 60A(7)(a), (b), (c) and (f) | ||||
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, so far as relating to the Counter Fraud and Investigation Team | 60A(7)(b)] | ||||
Department of Justice in Northern Ireland | 60A(7)(b), (d) and (g) | Governor 4 in the Northern Ireland Prison Service | All | 61A(7)(a), (b) and (e) | |
F18... | F18... | F18... | F18... | F18... | |
[F19Environment Agency | 60A(7)(b) and (d) | Area Management Team Member or equivalent (Grade 7) or Senior Enforcement Technical Advisor or equivalent (Grade 6) | All | 61A(7)(a) and (b)] | |
Financial Conduct Authority | 60A(7)(b) | Head of department in the Enforcement and Market Oversight Division | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
F20... | F20... | F20... | F20... | F20... | |
Food Standards Agency | 60A(7)(b) | Grade 6 | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Food Standards Scotland | 60A(7)(b) | Head of the Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Gambling Commission | 60A(7)(b) | Senior manager | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
F21... | F21... | F21... | F21... | F21... | |
Health and Safety Executive | 60A(7)(b) and (d) | Band 1 inspector | All | 61A(7)(a) and (b) | |
Independent Office for Police Conduct | 60A(7)(b) and (g) | Director or an equivalent grade | All | 61A(7)(a) and (e) | |
[F22Service Police Complaints Commissioner | 60A(7)(b) and (g) | Senior investigating officer | All | 61A(7)(a) and (e)] | |
[F23Information Commission] | 60A(7)(b) | Group manager | Entity data | 61A(7)(a) | |
[F24Head of department in an investigation or intelligence role] | All | 61A(7)(a) | |||
F25... | F25... | F25... | F25... | F25... | |
60A(7)(a) | [F28Grade D6 in the UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping] | All | 61(7)(a)] | ||
[F29NHS Counter Fraud Authority] | 60A(7)(b) | Senior manager (of pay band 8b) F30... | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
F31... | F31... | F31... | F31... | F31... | |
F20... | F20... | F20... | F20... | F20... | |
Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Regional Business Services Organisation | 60A(7)(b) | Assistant Director Counter Fraud and Probity Services | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
F32... | F32... | F32... | F32... | F32... | |
Office of Communications | 60A(7)(b) | Senior associate | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland | 60A(7)(b) | Senior investigating officer | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
[F33Pensions Regulator | 60A(7)(b) | Head of Department in an enforcement or intelligence role | All | 61A(7)(a)] | |
Police Investigations and Review Commissioner | 60A(7)(b) and (g) | Commissioner or Director of Operations | All | 61A(7)(a) and (e) | |
F34... | F34... | F34... | F34... | F34... | |
Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission | 60A(7)(f) | Investigations Adviser | All | 61A(7)(d) | |
[F35Security Industry Authority | 60A(7)(b) and (d)] | ||||
Serious Fraud Office | 60A(7)(b) | Grade 6 | All | 61A(7)(a) | |
F36... | F36... | F36... | F36... | F36... | |
Velindre NHS Trust, so far as relating to Counter Fraud Services Wales | 60A(7)(a) and (b) | ||||
F37... | F37... | F37... | F37... | F37... | |
F38... | F38... | F38... | F38... | F38...] |
Part 2 Interpretation of table
- F39...
- “entity data” means any communications data which is entity data.
Amended text
This Schedule is shown as amended by Armed Forces Act 2021; Employment Rights Act 2025; Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025; S.I. 2018/1123; S.I. 2020/1037; S.I. 2020/661; S.I. 2022/1395; S.I. 2025/808; S.I. 2026/351; S.I. 2026/386; S.I. 2026/426 (see the annotations below), as incorporated in the text in force on 7 October 2026 as published on legislation.gov.uk.
Annotations
Textual Amendments
- F1 Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (5.2.2019) by The Data Retention and Acquisition Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1123), reg. 1(4)(d)(5), Sch. 1 para. 26 (see S.I. 2019/174, art. 2(c))
- F2 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(2)
- F3 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table 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. 47; S.I. 2022/471, reg. 2(e); S.I. 2022/1095, reg. 4
- F4 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (1.1.2023) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1395), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(a)
- F5 Word in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (1.1.2023) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1395), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(b)
- F6 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(3)
- F7 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(4)
- F8 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (8.7.2025) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(2)
- F9 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(5)
- F10 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (8.7.2025) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(3)
- F11 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (22.7.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/661), regs. 1, 2(3)
- F12 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (8.7.2025) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(11)(a)
- F13 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (1.4.2026) by Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 (c. 28), ss. 6, 109(1) (with ss. 72, 105); S.I. 2026/371, reg. 2(a)
- F14 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (8.7.2025) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(4)
- F15 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (8.7.2025) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(5)
- F16 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (7.4.2026) by The Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/351), regs. 1(2)(a), 2(2)
- F17 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (8.7.2025) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(6)
- F18 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (11.5.2026) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/426), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(a)
- F19 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(6)
- F20 Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table entries omitted (22.7.2020) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/661), regs. 1, 2(2)
- F21 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 Table omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 88(2) (with s. 147 Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(e)
- F22 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (1.11.2022 for specified purposes, 19.6.2023 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2021 (c. 35), s. 24(1), Sch. 4 para. 2(6); S.I. 2022/1095, reg. 3; S.I. 2023/621, reg. 2
- F23 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 Table substituted (30.9.2026) by The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/386), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 20(f); S.I. 2026/1015, reg. 2(c)
- F24 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(7)
- F25 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (8.7.2025) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(11)(b)
- F26 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(8)
- F27 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (1.1.2023) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1395), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(a)
- F28 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (1.1.2023) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1395), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(b)
- F29 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table substituted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(9)(a)
- F30 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (25.9.2020) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(9)(b)
- F31 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (11.5.2026) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/426), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(b)
- F32 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (11.5.2026) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/426), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(c)
- F33 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (25.9.2020) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1037), regs. 1, 2(10)
- F34 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (8.7.2025) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(11)(c)
- F35 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table inserted (8.7.2025) by The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(9)
- F36 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (11.5.2026) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/426), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(d)
- F37 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (11.5.2026) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/426), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(e)
- F38 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 1 table omitted (8.7.2025) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 2(11)(d)
- F39 Words in Sch. 4 Pt. 2 para. 1 omitted (8.7.2025) by virtue of The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/808), regs. 1(1), 3
Commencement Information
- I1 Sch. 4 Pt. 1 in force at 5.2.2019 by S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(m)
- I2 Sch. 4 Pt. 2 in force at 5.2.2019 by S.I. 2019/174, reg. 2(m)
https://ipa.digiphile.law/schedule/schedule-4.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.