Guidance

Communications data: code of practice

This code of practice relates to the exercise of functions conferred by virtue of part 3 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 12 June 2018
• Last updated: 6 June 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 6 June 2025

     Code of practice updated as the draft laid before Parliament on 31 March 2025 is now in force. Annex B added.

  2. 31 March 2025

     Removed "Additional guidance to the communications data codes of practice: definition of communications data".

  3. 12 June 2018

     First published.

Documents

Communications data code of practice (accessible)

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Communications data code of practice

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Annex B: communications data code of practice (accessible)

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Annex B: communications data code of practice

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Details

Section 2 of this code provides guidance on the procedures to be followed when acquisition of communications data takes place under the provisions in part 3 of the Investigatory Powers Act.

The previous section 3 of this code provided guidance on the procedures to be followed when communications data is retained under part 4 of the Investigatory Powers Act. This is now included in the notices code of practice.