United Kingdom: Home Office issued Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations

On 15 April 2026, the Home Office issued Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations, amending the list of public authorities permitted to obtain communications data. The regulations were issued under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 to modify Schedule 4, which defines the entities, other than local authorities, authorised to access communications data as specified under section 261(5) of the Act. The regulations specifically remove ambulance services in England and Northern Ireland from the list of relevant public authorities, thereby revoking their legal powers to obtain communications data. This amendment updates the requirements for authorisations, including the statutory purposes, data types, and the seniority of officers capable of granting such authorisations within the revised framework.