National Security Act 2023

Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6)

6 (1) The Official Secrets Act 1989 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 5(6) (offence of disclosing information obtained by espionage) for “section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911” substitute “any of sections 1 to 4 of the National Security Act 2023”.

(3) In section 11 (arrest, search and trial)—

(a) for subsections (3) and (3A) substitute—

“(3) Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023 (powers of entry, search and seizure) applies in relation to a relevant offence as it applies in relation to a relevant act (within the meaning given by paragraphs 1 and 18 of that Schedule).”;

(b) for subsection (4) substitute—

“(4) If it is necessary in the interests of national security, a court may exclude the public from any part of proceedings for a relevant offence, except the passing of sentence.”;

(c) after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) In this section a “relevant offence” means an offence under any provision of this Act other than section 8(1), (4) or (5).”