Part 1Espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers

Espionage etc

I1I21Obtaining or disclosing protected information

1

A person commits an offence if—

a

the person—

i

obtains, copies, records or retains protected information, or

ii

discloses or provides access to protected information,

b

the person’s conduct is for a purpose that they know, or having regard to other matters known to them ought reasonably to know, is prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, and

c

the foreign power condition is met in relation to the person’s conduct (see section 31).

2

In this sectionprotected information” means any information, document or other article where, for the purpose of protecting the safety or interests of the United Kingdom—

a

access to the information, document or other article is restricted in any way, or

b

it is reasonable to expect that access to the information, document or other article would be restricted in any way.

3

Subsection (1) applies whether the person’s conduct takes place in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

4

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life or a fine (or both).

5

For the purposes of this section

a

a person retains protected information if the person retains it in their possession or under their control;

b

disclosure includes parting with possession.