Courts empowered to disconnect communications devices used in drug offences

Such orders will require communications providers to disconnect a device used in relation to drugs offences.

In the House of Lords last month Baroness Williams of Trafford said: “In essence, the regulations provide the civil courts with the power to make a drug dealing telecommunications restriction order, and set out the process and procedure for doing so.

“The applicant for a DDTRO—that is, the police or the NCA—will have to satisfy a court that on the balance of probabilities the device has been used, is likely to have been used, or is likely to be used in connection with drug-dealing offences.

“The court will also have to have reasonable grounds to believe that the order would prevent or restrict the use of a communication device in connection with drug-dealing offences.”