Interception of Communications Act 1985
The Interception of Communications Act 1985 (1985 c. 56) was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It came into operation as of 10 April 1986.
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| Long title | An Act to make new provision for and in connection with the interception of communications sent by post or by means of public telecommunication systems and to amend section 45 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. |
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| Citation | 1985 c. 56 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales, Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 July 1985 |
| Commencement | 10 April 1986 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Act created the offence of unlawfully intercepting communications sent by post or by a "public telecommunications system"; those guilty were liable, on conviction, to a fine or up to two years imprisonment. It provided for a system of warrants to permit legal interception, and laid down cases where interception could be done lawfully, stating that having reasonable grounds to believe that the other party consented to interception was a defence.
The Act also established a complaints tribunal (which in 2000 was subsumed into the Investigatory Powers Tribunal), and created the post of Interception of Communications Commissioner to review the workings of the Act. It amended parts of the Telecommunications Act 1984.
This Act has since been repealed by schedule 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
References
- Whitaker's Almanack: for the year 1987, complete edition, p. 363. J. Whitaker & Sons, London, 1986
- Sections of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 as passed