Espionage UK – Offences Government Factsheet
Take a look at the recently updated espionage UK offences factsheet produced by the UK Government.
We’ve recently had a spate of (what we will politely call) ‘unscrupulous opportunistic companies’ approach us. These companies ask us to undertake work on behalf of their ‘clients’. Verrimus take all enquiries very seriously and WE ALWAYS UNDERTAKE DUE DILIGENCE CHECKS.
Before Verrimus consent to provide our services to any organisation we must be certain that the service is legal. Not only legal but morally acceptable to our UK Government. Sadly, there are many within the security industry who do not have the same approach. There are people within the UK providing equipment, services and information to foreign intelligence clients who simply see the large pay check they’ll receive!
Everyone involved in the security industry should be up to date with what constitutes an espionage UK offence.
- The Official Secrets Act 1911 criminalises espionage by prohibiting certain conduct that is carried out with a purpose prejudicial to the safety of interests of the UK, including obtaining or disclosing information which would be ‘useful to an enemy’.
- Technological developments have changed the nature of espionage and modernised the targets and vectors through which espionage can be conducted.
- Espionage is now addressed by 3 offences in the Bill: obtaining or disclosing protected information; obtaining or disclosing trade secrets; and assisting a foreign intelligence service. The Bill repeals the Official Secrets Acts 1911, 1920 and 1939, which contain the existing provisions.
New espionage offences: factsheet – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
