For “provide assistance”, see subsection (9).
Section 15: General safeguards
123.This Section has the effect of restricting the use of intercepted material to the minimum necessary for the authorised purposes. Section 82(6) contains a transitional provision applying the provisions of Sections 15 and 16 to warrants and certificates under the 1985 Act.
124.Subsection (1) imposes a duty upon the Secretary of State to ensure that safeguard arrangements are in place to ensure the requirements of this section and section 15 are complied with.
125.Subsection (2) requires that the distribution and disclosure of intercepted material and related communications data are kept to a minimum.
126.Subsection (3) requires that all copies of any intercepted material and related communications data must be destroyed as soon it is no longer necessary to retain it for any of the authorised purposes (see below). This does not impose any obligation to retain material, which may therefore be destroyed earlier in some cases.