National Security Act 2023 (c. 32)

Part 1 U.K. Espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers

Espionage etc U.K.

1 Obtaining or disclosing protected information U.K.

(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 section “protected 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.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 100(1)

I2 S. 1 in force at 20.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(a)