Part 6: Bulk warrants Chapter 3: Bulk equipment interference warrants Section 188: Approval of major modifications made in urgent cases
This section sets out the process for the approval of a major modification to a bulk equipment interference warrant, which has been made urgently by the Secretary of State without the approval of the Judicial Commissioner.
	The Secretary of State must inform a Judicial Commissioner that the modification has been made.
	The Judicial Commissioner has three working days from the date of the modification in which to decide whether to approve the decision to modify the warrant, and to notify the Secretary of State of that decision.
	If the Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve the decision to make the modification, subsection (4) makes clear that the warrant has effect as if the modification had not been made, and anything done as a result of that modification must stop as soon as possible. If the Commissioner refuses to approve the modification, the activity authorised by that modification must cease as far as reasonably practicable. Subsection (5) explains that a Judicial Commissioner has the power to authorise additional equipment interference after refusing to approve the decision to issue an urgent warrant, where such interference is necessary to ensure any ongoing or future interference ceases as soon as possible.
	In an urgent case where a Judicial Commissioner refuses to approve the decision to make a major modification, the Secretary of State may not refer the case to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner for a review.
	Subsection (6) clarifies that if the decision to make an urgent modification is not approved, the actions carried out whilst the warrant was active by virtue of the modification are not made invalid or unlawful by the ceasing of the warrant.