Terrorism Act 2000

103 Terrorist information. N.I.

(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) he collects, makes a record of, publishes, communicates or attempts to elicit information about a person to whom this section applies which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.

(2) This section applies to a person who is or has been—

(a) a constable,

(b) a member of Her Majesty’s Forces,

(c) the holder of a judicial office,

(d) an officer of any court, or

(e) [F1 employed in] the prison service in Northern Ireland.

(3) In this section “record” includes a photographic or electronic record.

(4) If it is proved in proceedings for an offence under subsection (1)(b) that a document or record—

(a) was on any premises at the same time as the accused, or

(b) was on premises of which the accused was the occupier or which he habitually used otherwise than as a member of the public,

the court may assume that the accused possessed the document or record, unless he proves that he did not know of its presence on the premises or that he had no control over it.

(5) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for his action or possession.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, to a fine or to both, or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.

(7) A court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence under this section may order the forfeiture of any document or record containing information of the kind mentioned in subsection (1)(a).

(8) Before making an order under subsection (7) a court must give an opportunity to be heard to any person, other than the convicted person, who claims to be the owner of or otherwise interested in anything which can be forfeited under that subsection.

(9) An order under subsection (8) shall not come into force until there is no further possibility of it being varied, or set aside, on appeal (disregarding any power of a court to grant leave to appeal out of time).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 103(2)(e) substituted (14.7.2004) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004 (c. 4), s. 14; S.R. 2004/267, art. 2