S.L. 586.1 Art. 22Conservation order.

(1) The Police may, in addition to the request for data under regulation 19, issue a conservation order in relation to the data.

(2) The conservation order shall be served on the service provider within the retention period applicable under regulation 21.

(3) Where a conservation order has been issued, the service provider shall conserve the data -

(a) either for a period of six months in addition to the original or extended applicable retention period which period shall not, without an order of a Magistrate or of a competent Court, exceed a total period of two years; or

(b) where criminal proceedings have been commenced within the applicable retention period or within such period as extended in accordance with paragraph (a), for such time as may be necessary for the conclusion of the criminal proceedings where the data is required to be produced as evidence; such conclusion shall be deemed to occur when the judgement in the proceedings becomes final and conclusive, whichever is the longer period.