
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Investigatory Powers (Temporary Judicial Commissioners and Modification of Time Limits) Regulations 2020.
(2) These Regulations come into force on the day after they are made.
2 
In these Regulations—
 “the Commissioner” means the Investigatory Powers Commissioner;
 “temporary Commissioner” means a person appointed under regulation 3(1).
3 

(1) The Commissioner may appoint persons to carry out the functions conferred on Judicial Commissioners by the 1997 Act  , the 2000 Acts   and the 2016 Act  .
(2) A temporary Commissioner may be appointed for one or more terms not exceeding six months each and not exceeding 12 months in total.
(3) Sections 227(4) to (6) (appointments of Judicial Commissioners to be made on joint recommendation of certain persons and consultation requirements) and 228(2) (appointment for a term of three years) of the 2016 Act do not apply to the appointment of temporary Commissioners.
(4) As soon as practicable after the appointment of any temporary Commissioner, the Commissioner must notify the persons listed in section 22(5)(a) to (f) of the Coronavirus Act 2020 of that appointment.
4 
For the purposes of warrants issued, and modifications made, after the coming into force of these Regulations, the 2016 Act has effect as if—
(a) in sections 24(3), 109(3), 180(3) and 209(3) (period within which Judicial Commissioner must decide whether to approve decision to issue urgent warrant), in the definition of  “relevant period” for  “third” there were substituted “
                ninth
              ”;
(b) in sections 32(2)(a), 116(2)(a), 184(2)(a) and 213(2)(a) (period at end of which urgent warrant ceases to have effect), for  “fifth” there were substituted “
                12th
              ”;
(c) in sections 38(5), 122(5), 124(3), 147(3), 166(3), 188(3) and 217(3) (period within which Judicial Commissioner or other appropriate person must decide whether to approve decision to make urgent modification of warrant), in the definition of  “relevant period” for  “third” there were substituted “
                ninth
              ”.
5 
These Regulations cease to have effect at the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which they come into force.
James Brokenshire

Minister of State

Home Office
