122.These paragraphs correspond to paragraph 7 of Schedule 7 to the PTA and have similar effect. They provide that in urgent cases a police superintendent may issue warrants and explanation orders, so long as he notifies the Secretary of State. The condition in paragraph 7(1) that the action must be “in the interests of the State” has been dropped. This is because the Act applies to all forms of terrorism: the power might therefore be used in a case where the terrorism was directed against another country.
Schedule 5: Terrorist Investigations Paragraphs 15–16: Urgent cases