Guidance

Retention and use of bulk personal datasets: code of practice

This code of practice relates to the exercise of functions conferred by virtue of part 7 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.

  2. 21 March 2024

     Bulk personal dataset (BPD) overseas sharing handling arrangements document added. This document was first published on 11 August 2023.

  3. 12 June 2018

     First published.

Documents

Intelligence services' retention and use of bulk personal datasets code of practice (accessible)

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Intelligence services' retention and use of bulk personal datasets code of practice

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Bulk personal dataset (BPD) overseas sharing handling arrangements

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Details

Code of practice on the procedures that must be followed before bulk personal datasets can be retained and examined by:

• the Security Service
• the Secret Intelligence Service
• the Government Communications Headquarters