Legislation – National Security Act 2023

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Introduction

Part 1
Espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers

1 Obtaining or disclosing protected information

2 Obtaining or disclosing trade secrets

3 Assisting a foreign intelligence service

4 Entering etc a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK

5 Unauthorised entry etc to a prohibited place

6 Powers of police officers in relation to a prohibited place

7 Meaning of “prohibited place”

8 Power to designate additional sites as prohibited places

9 Power to designate a cordoned area to secure defence aircraft

10 Duration of cordon

11 Powers of police in relation to a cordoned area

12 Sabotage

13 Foreign interference: general

14 Foreign interference: meaning of “interference effect”

15 Foreign interference: meaning of “prohibited conduct”

16 Foreign interference in elections

17 Obtaining etc material benefits from a foreign intelligence service

18 Preparatory conduct

19 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: England and Wales

20 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: Northern Ireland

21 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: Scotland

22 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: armed forces

23 Powers of search etc

24 Disclosure orders

25 Customer information orders

26 Account monitoring orders

27 Arrest without warrant

28 Use of reasonable force

29 Border security

30 Offences under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007

31 The foreign power condition

32 Meaning of “foreign power”

33 Foreign power threat activity and involvement in that activity

34 Interpretation

35 Offences by bodies corporate etc

36 Offences committed outside the United Kingdom

37 Consents to prosecutions

38 Power to exclude the public from proceedings

Part 2
Prevention and investigation measures

39 Power to impose prevention and investigation measures

40 Conditions A to E

41 Five year limit for Part 2 notices

42 Prior permission of the court

43 Urgent cases: reference to the court etc

44 Directions hearing

45 Review hearing

46 Criminal investigations into foreign power threat activity

47 Review of ongoing necessity

48 Variation of measures

49 Revocation and revival of Part 2 notices

50 Replacement of a Part 2 notice that is quashed etc

51 Other provision relating to the quashing of Part 2 notice

52 Appeals

53 Jurisdiction in relation to decisions under this Part

54 Proceedings relating to measures

55 Reports on exercise of powers under this Part

56 Offence

57 Powers of entry etc

58 Fingerprints and samples

59 Notices

60 Contracts

61 Legal aid in relation to Part 2 notices

62 Interpretation etc

Part 3
Review of the operation of Parts 1 and 2 etc

63 Reviews: general

64 Reviews of detention under Part 1

Part 4
Foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme

65 Requirement to register foreign activity arrangements

66 Meaning of “specified person”

67 Offence of carrying out etc relevant activities pursuant to unregistered foreign activity arrangement

68 Requirement to register relevant activities of specified persons

69 Requirement to register foreign influence arrangements

70 Meaning of “political influence activity”

71 Offence of carrying out etc political influence activities pursuant to unregistered foreign influence arrangement

72 Requirement to register political influence activities of foreign powers

73 Exemptions

74 Registration information

75 Information notices

76 Confidential material

77 Offence of providing false information

78 Offence of carrying out activities under arrangements tainted by false information

79 Publication and disclosure of information

80 Offences: penalties

81 Offences: supplementary provision

82 Annual report

83 Interpretation

Part 5
Terrorism

84 National security proceedings

85 Duty to consider reduction in damages payable by the Crown

86 Section 85: supplementary

87 Sections 84 to 86: interpretation

88 Damages at risk of being used for the purposes of terrorism

89 Legal aid for individuals convicted of terrorism offences

90 Legal aid for individuals convicted of terrorism offences: data sharing

91 Legal aid in relation to terrorism prevention and investigation measures

92 Amendments of the Terrorism Act 2000

Part 6
Miscellaneous and general provisions

93 Intelligence and Security Committee: memorandum of understanding

94 Minor and consequential amendments

95 Power to make consequential amendments

96 Regulations

97 Crown application

98 Extent in the United Kingdom

99 Extent outside the United Kingdom

100 Commencement

101 Transitional and saving provision

102 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Foreign interference in elections

Schedule 2 Powers of entry, search and seizure

Schedule 3 Disclosure orders

Schedule 4 Customer information orders

Schedule 5 Account monitoring orders

Schedule 6 Detention under section 27

Schedule 7 Prevention and investigation measures

Schedule 8 Urgent cases: reference to the court etc

Schedule 9 Appeals against convictions

Schedule 10 Proceedings relating to prevention and investigation measures

Schedule 11 Powers of entry, search, seizure and retention

Schedule 12 Fingerprints and samples

Schedule 13 Control of a person by a foreign power

Schedule 14 Public officials

Schedule 15 Exemptions

Schedule 16 Damages at risk of being used for the purposes of terrorism

Schedule 17 Amendments of Terrorism Act 2000

Schedule 18 Minor and consequential amendments

Schedules

Schedule 18Minor and consequential amendments

Official Secrets Act 1911 (c. 28)

1

The Official Secrets Act 1911 is repealed.

Official Secrets Act 1920 (c. 75)

2

The Official Secrets Act 1920 is repealed.

Official Secrets Act 1939 (c. 121)

3

The Official Secrets Act 1939 is repealed.

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60)

4

(1)

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 56 (right to have someone informed when arrested), in subsection (10), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(3)

In section 58 (right to consult a solicitor), in subsection (12), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(4)

In section 61 (fingerprinting), in subsection (9)(b), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(5)

In section 63F (retention of fingerprints and DNA profiles for persons arrested for or charged with a qualifying offence)—

(a)

in subsections (5)(a) and (5A)(a), after “terrorism-related qualifying offence” insert “or a national security-related qualifying offence”;

(b)

in subsection (11), in the appropriate place insert—

““national security-related qualifying offence” means—

(a)

an offence under section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 or for the time being listed in section 33(3)(a) of that Act, or

(b)

an ancillary offence, as defined in section 65A(5), relating to an offence for the time being listed in section 33(3)(a) of that Act,”.

(6)

In section 63U (exclusions for certain regimes), after subsection (4A) insert—

“(4B)

Sections 63D to 63T do not apply to material to which—

(a)

Part 4 of Schedule 6 to the National Security Act 2023 applies, or

(b)

paragraph 6 of Schedule 12 to that Act applies.”

(7)

In section 65A(2) (meaning of “qualifying offence”), after paragraph (u) insert—

“(v)

an offence under section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 or for the time being listed in section 33(3)(a) of that Act.”

Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))

5

(1)

The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)) is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 53A (meaning of “qualifying offence”), after paragraph (2)(v) insert—

“(w)

an offence under section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 or for the time being listed in section 33(3)(a) of that Act.”

(3)

In Article 57 (right to have someone informed when arrested), in paragraph (10), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(4)

In Article 59 (right to consult a solicitor), in paragraph (12), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(5)

In Article 61 (fingerprinting), in paragraph (9)(b), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(6)

In Article 62 (intimate samples), after paragraph (12) insert—

“(12A)

Nothing in this Article applies to a person arrested or detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023; and paragraph (1A) does not apply where the non‐intimate samples mentioned in that paragraph were taken under paragraph 10 of Schedule 6 to that Act.”

(7)

In Article 63 (other samples), in paragraph (11), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023,”.

(8)

In Article 63R (as inserted by Schedule 2 to the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (c. 7 (N.I.)), after paragraph (4A) (as inserted by Schedule 4 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019) insert—

“(4B)

Articles 63B to 63Q do not apply to material to which—

(a)

Part 4 of Schedule 6 to the National Security Act 2023 applies, or

(b)

paragraph 6 of Schedule 12 to that Act applies.”

(9)

In Article 64 (destruction of fingerprints and samples), in paragraph (8)(b), after “the terrorism provisions” insert “or under section 27 of the 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).”

Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46)

7

(1)

Section 19C of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (use of samples etc) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1)(a) and (b), after “2019” insert “or paragraph 18 of Schedule 6 to the National Security Act 2023”.

(3)

In subsection (2)—

(a)

in paragraph (c) omit “or”;

(b)

after that paragraph insert—

“(ca)

for the purposes of investigating foreign power threat activity, or”.

(4)

In subsection (6)—

(a)

in paragraph (c) omit “and”;

(b)

after that paragraph insert—

“(ca)

foreign power threat activity” has the meaning given by section 33 of the National Security Act 2023, and”.

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9)

8

(1)

Section 20 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (appointment and functions of Commissioner) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (2)(a), after sub-paragraph (iva) insert—

“(ivb)

paragraph 22 of Schedule 6 to the National Security Act 2023,

(ivc)

paragraph 11 of Schedule 12 to that Act,”.

(3)

In subsection (6), after paragraph (e) insert—

“(f)

the retention and use in accordance with Part 4 of Schedule 6 to the National Security Act 2023 of—

(i)

any material to which paragraph 19 or 25 of that Schedule applies (fingerprints, relevant physical data, DNA profiles and samples), and

(ii)

any copies of any material to which paragraph 19 of that Schedule applies (fingerprints, relevant physical data and DNA profiles),

(g)

the retention and use in accordance with paragraphs 5 to 15 of Schedule 12 to the National Security Act 2023 of—

(i)

any material to which paragraph 6 or 13 of that Schedule applies (fingerprints, relevant physical data, DNA profiles and samples), and

(ii)

any copies of any material to which paragraph 6 of that Schedule applies (fingerprints, relevant physical data and DNA profiles).”

Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)

9

In Schedule 4 to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (offences to which defence in section 45 does not apply), after paragraph 36B insert—

“National Security Act 2023

36C

An offence under any of the following provisions of the National Security Act 2023—

  • section 1 (obtaining or disclosing protected information);

  • section 2 (obtaining or disclosing trade secrets);

  • section 3 (assisting a foreign intelligence service);

  • section 4 (entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK);

  • section 12 (sabotage);

  • section 13 (foreign interference: general);

  • section 17 (obtaining material benefits from a foreign intelligence service);

  • section 18 (preparatory conduct).”

Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)

10

(1)

Schedule 3 to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (exceptions to the exclusion of certain matters from legal proceedings) is amended as follows.

(2)

After paragraph 8 insert—

“Proceedings under Part 2 of the National Security Act 2023

8A

(1)

Section 56(1) does not apply in relation to—

(a)

any proceedings which are relevant proceedings within the meaning of Part 2 of the National Security Act 2023 (see section 62(1) of that Act), or

(b)

any proceedings arising out of any proceedings within paragraph (a).

(2)

But sub-paragraph (1) does not permit the disclosure of anything to—

(a)

any person, other than the Secretary of State, who is or was a party to the proceedings, or

(b)

any person who—

(i)

represents such a person for the purposes of the proceedings, and

(ii)

does so otherwise than by virtue of an appointment as a special advocate under Schedule 10 to the National Security Act 2023.”

(3)

In paragraph 20(2) (proceedings for certain offences)—

(a)

after paragraph (h) insert—

“(ha)

an offence under section 1 or 3 of the National Security Act 2023 relating to any information, document or other article which, or an offence under section 12 of that Act relating to any asset which—

(i)

incorporates, or relates to, the content of any intercepted communication or any secondary data obtained from a communication, or

(ii)

tends to suggest that any interception-related conduct has or may have occurred or may be going to occur;

(hb)

an offence under section 18 of the National Security Act 2023 in relation to an offence falling within paragraph (ha);”;

(b)

in paragraph (i), for “(h)” substitute (ha).

Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (c. 3)

11

In paragraph 62 of Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (review of Schedule 3 by Investigatory Powers Commissioner) omit—

(a)

sub-paragraphs (1) to (5);

(b)

sub-paragraphs (7) and (8).