UK Act of Parliament 2023 c. 32 United Kingdom

National Security Act 2023

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Status
In Force
Penalty ceiling
Imprisonment 5 of 14 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 3 carry different penalties and 6 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person10

Plus 4 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

102 other provisions — procedural and definitional
s.001 Obtaining or disclosing protected information (opens in a new tab)
s.002 Obtaining or disclosing trade secrets (opens in a new tab)
s.003 Assisting a foreign intelligence service (opens in a new tab)
s.004 Entering etc a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK (opens in a new tab)
s.005 Unauthorised entry etc to a prohibited place (opens in a new tab)
s.006 Powers of police officers in relation to a prohibited place (opens in a new tab)
s.007 Meaning of “prohibited place” (opens in a new tab)
s.008 Power to designate additional sites as prohibited places (opens in a new tab)
s.009 Power to designate a cordoned area to secure defence aircraft (opens in a new tab)
s.010 Duration of cordon (opens in a new tab)
s.011 Powers of police in relation to a cordoned area (opens in a new tab)
s.012 Sabotage (opens in a new tab)
s.013 Foreign interference: general (opens in a new tab)
s.014 Foreign interference: meaning of “interference effect” (opens in a new tab)
s.015 Foreign interference: meaning of “prohibited conduct” (opens in a new tab)
s.016 Foreign interference in elections (opens in a new tab)
s.017 Obtaining etc material benefits from a foreign intelligence service (opens in a new tab)
s.018 Preparatory conduct (opens in a new tab)
s.019 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: England and Wales (opens in a new tab)
s.020 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
s.021 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: Scotland (opens in a new tab)
s.022 Aggravating factor where foreign power condition met: armed forces (opens in a new tab)
s.023 Powers of search etc (opens in a new tab)
s.024 Disclosure orders (opens in a new tab)
s.025 Customer information orders (opens in a new tab)
s.026 Account monitoring orders (opens in a new tab)
s.027 Arrest without warrant (opens in a new tab)
s.028 Use of reasonable force (opens in a new tab)
s.029 Border security (opens in a new tab)
s.030 Offences under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (opens in a new tab)
s.031 The foreign power condition (opens in a new tab)
s.032 Meaning of “foreign power” (opens in a new tab)
s.033 Foreign power threat activity and involvement in that activity (opens in a new tab)
s.034 Interpretation (opens in a new tab)
s.035 Offences by bodies corporate etc (opens in a new tab)
s.036 Offences committed outside the United Kingdom (opens in a new tab)
s.037 Consents to prosecutions (opens in a new tab)
s.038 Power to exclude the public from proceedings (opens in a new tab)
s.039 Power to impose prevention and investigation measures (opens in a new tab)
s.040 Conditions A to E (opens in a new tab)
s.041 Five year limit for Part 2 notices (opens in a new tab)
s.042 Prior permission of the court (opens in a new tab)
s.043 Urgent cases: reference to the court etc (opens in a new tab)
s.044 Directions hearing (opens in a new tab)
s.045 Review hearing (opens in a new tab)
s.046 Criminal investigations into foreign power threat activity (opens in a new tab)
s.047 Review of ongoing necessity (opens in a new tab)
s.048 Variation of measures (opens in a new tab)
s.049 Revocation and revival of Part 2 notices (opens in a new tab)
s.050 Replacement of a Part 2 notice that is quashed etc (opens in a new tab)
s.051 Other provision relating to the quashing of Part 2 notice (opens in a new tab)
s.052 Appeals (opens in a new tab)
s.053 Jurisdiction in relation to decisions under this Part (opens in a new tab)
s.054 Proceedings relating to measures (opens in a new tab)
s.055 Reports on exercise of powers under this Part (opens in a new tab)
s.056 Offence (opens in a new tab)
s.057 Powers of entry etc (opens in a new tab)
s.058 Fingerprints and samples (opens in a new tab)
s.059 Notices (opens in a new tab)
s.060 Contracts (opens in a new tab)
s.061 Legal aid in relation to Part 2 notices (opens in a new tab)
s.062 Interpretation etc (opens in a new tab)
s.063 Reviews: general (opens in a new tab)
s.064 Reviews of detention under Part 1 (opens in a new tab)
s.065 Requirement to register foreign activity arrangements (opens in a new tab)
s.066 Meaning of “specified person” (opens in a new tab)
s.067 Offence of carrying out etc relevant activities pursuant to unregistered foreign activity arrangement (opens in a new tab)
s.068 Requirement to register relevant activities of specified persons (opens in a new tab)
s.069 Requirement to register foreign influence arrangements (opens in a new tab)
s.070 Meaning of “political influence activity” (opens in a new tab)
s.071 Offence of carrying out etc political influence activities pursuant to unregistered foreign influence arrangement (opens in a new tab)
s.072 Requirement to register political influence activities of foreign powers (opens in a new tab)
s.073 Exemptions (opens in a new tab)
s.074 Registration information (opens in a new tab)
s.075 Information notices (opens in a new tab)
s.076 Confidential material (opens in a new tab)
s.077 Offence of providing false information (opens in a new tab)
s.078 Offence of carrying out activities under arrangements tainted by false information (opens in a new tab)
s.079 Publication and disclosure of information (opens in a new tab)
s.080 Offences: penalties (opens in a new tab)
s.081 Offences: supplementary provision (opens in a new tab)
s.082 Annual report (opens in a new tab)
s.083 Interpretation (opens in a new tab)
s.084 National security proceedings (opens in a new tab)
s.085 Duty to consider reduction in damages payable by the Crown (opens in a new tab)
s.086 Section 85: supplementary (opens in a new tab)
s.087 Sections 84 to 86: interpretation (opens in a new tab)
s.088 Damages at risk of being used for the purposes of terrorism (opens in a new tab)
s.089 Legal aid for individuals convicted of terrorism offences (opens in a new tab)
s.090 Legal aid for individuals convicted of terrorism offences: data sharing (opens in a new tab)
s.091 Legal aid in relation to terrorism prevention and investigation measures (opens in a new tab)
s.092 Amendments of the Terrorism Act 2000 (opens in a new tab)
s.093 Intelligence and Security Committee: memorandum of understanding (opens in a new tab)
s.094 Minor and consequential amendments (opens in a new tab)
s.095 Power to make consequential amendments (opens in a new tab)
s.096 Regulations (opens in a new tab)
s.097 Crown application (opens in a new tab)
s.098 Extent in the United Kingdom (opens in a new tab)
s.099 Extent outside the United Kingdom (opens in a new tab)
s.100 Commencement (opens in a new tab)
s.101 Transitional and saving provision (opens in a new tab)
s.102 Short title (opens in a new tab)
Schedules

Schedules

14 of 246 shown
s.sch002 (1) A person commits an offence if, in purported compliance... Prosecution
  • Make false or misleading statement in response to national security orderAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch002 Urgent cases Imprisonment
  • Wilfully obstruct a police search under urgent national security powersAny Person
s.sch002 (1) If a police officer of at least the rank... Prosecution
  • Fail to provide explanation of seized material (urgent cases)Any Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch002 Urgent cases Imprisonment
  • Wilfully obstruct an urgent national security searchAny Person
s.sch002 (1) If a police officer of at least the rank... Imprisonment
  • Fail to comply with notice to explain seized materialAny Person
s.sch003 Offences Prosecution
  • Fail to comply with disclosure order or provide false informationAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch003 Offences Prosecution
  • Provide false information in response to a disclosure orderAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch004 Customer information orders Regulated
  • Comply with a customer information order from law enforcementAny Person
s.sch004 Offences Prosecution
  • Fail to comply with a customer information orderAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch005 Account monitoring orders Regulated
  • Comply with court-ordered account monitoring ordersAny Person
s.sch006 Samples: further provision Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Police must destroy certain samples unless a court orders retentionCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch006 Restrictions on use of retained material Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Police must not use retained material except for specified purposesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch008 Procedures on reference Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Court must apply judicial review principles and notify individual of decisionTribunal / Court
s.sch012 Use of retained material Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Restrict use of retained material to lawful purposesCrown / Minister / Government department
232 other schedules
s.sch001 Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c.14 (N.I.))
s.sch001 Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2)
s.sch001 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41)
s.sch002 Introductory
s.sch002 Explanations
s.sch002 (1) This paragraph applies where confidential journalistic material is seized...
s.sch002 Application of PACE
s.sch002 Procedure rules
s.sch002 Interpretation
s.sch002 Introductory
s.sch002 Production orders
s.sch002 Material other than confidential material: search, seizure and retention
s.sch002 (1) The procurator fiscal may apply to a sheriff for...
s.sch002 Production orders: supplementary
s.sch002 (1) An order under paragraph 19 or 20 has effect...
s.sch002 (1) An order under paragraph 19 or 20 may be...
s.sch002 (1) Without prejudice to section 305 of the Criminal Procedure...
s.sch002 Search, seizure and retention
s.sch002 Explanations
s.sch002 (1) This paragraph applies where confidential journalistic material is seized...
s.sch002 Confidential material: production orders
s.sch002 Supplementary
s.sch002 (1) A constable may apply to a judge for an...
s.sch002 Production orders: supplementary provision
s.sch002 (1) An order under paragraph 3 or 4—
s.sch002 (1) An order under paragraph 3 or 4 may be...
s.sch002 An order under paragraph 3 or 4 has effect as...
s.sch002 Confidential material: search, seizure and retention
s.sch003 Introductory
s.sch003 Introductory
s.sch003 Disclosure orders
s.sch003 Supplementary provision
s.sch003 Applications
s.sch003 Discharge or variation
s.sch003 Rules of court
s.sch003 Statements
s.sch003 Interpretation
s.sch003 Disclosure orders
s.sch003 Supplementary provision
s.sch003 Applications
s.sch003 Discharge or variation
s.sch003 Rules of court
s.sch003 Statements
s.sch003 Interpretation
s.sch004 Supplementary provision
s.sch004 Applications
s.sch004 Discharge or variation
s.sch004 Rules of court
s.sch004 Statements
s.sch004 Interpretation
s.sch005 Applications
s.sch005 Discharge or variation
s.sch005 Rules of court
s.sch005 Effect of orders
s.sch005 Statements
s.sch005 Interpretation
s.sch006 Place of detention
s.sch006 Taking of intimate and non-intimate samples
s.sch006 (1) Before fingerprints or a sample are taken from a...
s.sch006 (1) This paragraph applies where— (a) two or more non-intimate...
s.sch006 (1) Where appropriate written consent to the taking of an...
s.sch006 (1) In the application of paragraphs 10 to 13 in...
s.sch006 (1) A person detained under section 27 at a place...
s.sch006 (1) Where a person exercises the right under paragraph 15(6)...
s.sch006 (1) Paragraphs 15 and 16 have effect, in relation to...
s.sch006 (1) Subject to the modifications specified in sub-paragraphs (2) and...
s.sch006 Retention of fingerprints and samples etc: general
s.sch006 Identification
s.sch006 (1) This paragraph applies to paragraph 19 material relating to...
s.sch006 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 20, a person is...
s.sch006 Retention of material covered by a national security determination
s.sch006 Fingerprints and relevant physical data: further provision
s.sch006 (1) If fingerprints or relevant physical data are required by...
s.sch006 Material disclosable in connection with a criminal investigation
s.sch006 Interpretation
s.sch006 Requirement
s.sch006 Video recording of interviews
s.sch006 Postponement
s.sch006 Grounds for continued detention
s.sch006 Review officer
s.sch006 (1) This paragraph applies where— (a) the review officer is...
s.sch006 Representations
s.sch006 Rights
s.sch006 Record
s.sch006 Warrants of further detention
s.sch006 Time limit
s.sch006 Notice
s.sch006 (1) Before issuing a code of practice under paragraph 3,...
s.sch006 Grounds for extension
s.sch006 Representation
s.sch006 Information
s.sch006 Adjournments
s.sch006 Extensions of warrants
s.sch006 Detention - conditions
s.sch006 (1) The Secretary of State may make temporary extension regulations...
s.sch006 Status
s.sch006 Right to have named person informed of detention
s.sch006 Right to consult a solicitor
s.sch006 (1) Where a person exercises the right under paragraph 7...
s.sch006 Delay in exercise of rights
s.sch007 Residence measure
s.sch007 Work or studies measure
s.sch007 Reporting measure
s.sch007 Polygraph measure
s.sch007 Appointments measure
s.sch007 Photography measure
s.sch007 Monitoring measure
s.sch007 Provision of residence information measure
s.sch007 Permission
s.sch007 Notices
s.sch007 Power of Secretary of State to vary or revoke notices
s.sch007 Travel measure
s.sch007 Exclusion measure
s.sch007 Movement directions measure
s.sch007 Financial services measure
s.sch007 Property measure
s.sch007 Weapons and explosives measure
s.sch007 Electronic communication device measure
s.sch007 Association measure
s.sch008 Application
s.sch008 Statement of urgency
s.sch008 Reference to court
s.sch008 Decision by court
s.sch008 Interpretation
s.sch009 An individual who has been convicted of an offence under...
s.sch009 An appeal under this Schedule is to be made—
s.sch009 (1) The right of appeal under this Schedule does not...
s.sch009 (1) On an appeal under this Schedule to any court,...
s.sch010 Introductory
s.sch010 Appointment of special advocate
s.sch010 Rules of court: general provision
s.sch010 Rules of court: disclosure
s.sch010 (1) Rules of court relating to relevant proceedings or appeal...
s.sch010 Article 6 rights
s.sch010 Rules of court: anonymity
s.sch010 Initial exercise of rule-making powers by Lord Chancellor
s.sch010 Use of advisers
s.sch010 (1) The Lord President of the Court of Session may...
s.sch011 Introductory
s.sch011 Search of individual for public safety purposes
s.sch011 Power to retain items
s.sch011 (1) This paragraph applies if— (a) a device is surrendered...
s.sch011 A power conferred on a constable by virtue of this...
s.sch011 A constable may detain an individual for the purpose of...
s.sch011 A constable may use reasonable force, if necessary, for the...
s.sch011 Entry and search for purposes of serving a Part 2 notice
s.sch011 Search of individual or premises at time of serving a Part 2 notice
s.sch011 Search of premises on suspicion of absconding
s.sch011 Search for compliance purposes
s.sch011 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to a warrant issued...
s.sch012 Taking of fingerprints and samples: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
s.sch012 (1) For the purposes of paragraphs 8 and 9 an...
s.sch012 (1) Paragraph 6 material may be retained for as long...
s.sch012 (1) This paragraph applies where paragraph 6 material is or...
s.sch012 Requirement to destroy samples
s.sch012 Interpretation
s.sch012 (1) A constable may exercise the power under paragraph 1...
s.sch012 (1) A constable may— (a) require an individual to attend...
s.sch012 Taking of relevant physical data and samples: Scotland
s.sch012 Checking of fingerprints, samples etc
s.sch012 Requirement to destroy material
s.sch012 (1) If fingerprints or relevant physical data are required by...
s.sch012 Retention of paragraph 6 material
s.sch012 (1) This paragraph applies to paragraph 6 material taken from,...
s.sch013 (1) A person is controlled by a foreign power if...
s.sch013 Shares held by nominees
s.sch013 Rights treated as held by person who controls their exercise
s.sch013 (1) For the purposes of this Schedule, “arrangement” includes—
s.sch013 Rights exercisable only in certain circumstances etc
s.sch013 Rights attached to shares held by way of security
s.sch013 (1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this...
s.sch013 In this Schedule “officer”— (a) in relation to a body...
s.sch013 Interpretation
s.sch013 Joint interests
s.sch013 Joint arrangements
s.sch013 Calculating shareholdings
s.sch013 Voting rights
s.sch013 In applying this Schedule, the voting rights in a person...
s.sch013 Shares or rights held “indirectly”
s.sch014 Ministers
s.sch014 Local government
s.sch014 A mayor for the area of a combined authority established...
s.sch014 Political parties
s.sch014 A member of such a political party who exercises executive...
s.sch014 Election candidates
s.sch014 A candidate at an election for a relevant Scottish elective...
s.sch014 Civil servants
s.sch014 Military personnel
s.sch014 Police
s.sch014 A police and crime commissioner.
s.sch014 A Northern Ireland Minister, the First Minister in Northern Ireland,...
s.sch014 A person of one of the following ranks of the...
s.sch014 The Commissioner of Police for the City of London or...
s.sch014 The chief constable or deputy chief constable of the Police...
s.sch014 The chief constable or a deputy chief constable of the...
s.sch014 The chief constable or a deputy chief constable of the...
s.sch014 The chief constable or deputy chief constable of the British...
s.sch014 The chief constable or deputy chief constable of the Civil...
s.sch014 Persons exercising public functions
s.sch014 The First Minister for Scotland, a Minister appointed under section...
s.sch014 The First Minister for Wales, a Welsh Minister appointed under...
s.sch014 MPs etc
s.sch014 A member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
s.sch014 A member of the Scottish Parliament.
s.sch014 A member of Senedd Cymru.
s.sch014 An employee or other member of staff of a person...
s.sch015 UK arrangements
s.sch015 Foreign powers
s.sch015 Diplomatic missions etc
s.sch015 Recognised news publishers
s.sch015 (1) In paragraph 4, “recognised news publisher” means any of...
s.sch015 Legal activities
s.sch015 Employees etc
s.sch015 Power to provide for further exemptions
s.sch016 Freezing orders
s.sch016 Extension of freezing order
s.sch016 Forfeiture
s.sch016 Interpretation
s.sch016 (1) In the application of this Schedule to Northern Ireland,...
s.sch017 (1) Section 41 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (arrest without...
s.sch017 (1) Schedule 5 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (terrorist investigations)...
s.sch018 Official Secrets Act 1911 (c. 28)
s.sch018 Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25)
s.sch018 Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 (c. 3)
s.sch018 Official Secrets Act 1920 (c. 75)
s.sch018 Official Secrets Act 1939 (c. 121)
s.sch018 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60)
s.sch018 Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))
s.sch018 Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6)
s.sch018 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46)
s.sch018 Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9)
s.sch018 Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.