BRITISH INTELLIGENCE-RELATED LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Official Secrets Act 1989

Here you can browse a summary (the Long Title and Arrangement of Sections) and publishing details for the Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6). Full details of how to order publications from The Stationery Office, including lists of agents and stockists in the UK and world wide, are available. The complete Act comprises 15 printed pages at £2.80 pounds sterling and is published by The Stationery Office Ltd as ISBN 0 10 540689 9

Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6) 
 
The Act is introduced by the Long Title which states:

"An Act to replace section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 by provisions protecting more limited classes of official information."
 

The Arrangement of Sections shows the contents of the Act.

Arrangement of Sections [Link to Schedules]

 
1. Security and intelligence.
2. Defence.
3. International relations.
4. Crime and special investigation powers.
5. Information resulting from unauthorised disclosures or entrusted in confidence.
6. Information entrusted in confidence to other States or international organisations.
7. Authorised disclosures.
8. Safeguarding of information.
9. Prosecutions.
10. Penalties.
11. Arrest, search and trial.
12. "Crown servant" and "government contractor".
13. Other interpretation provisions.
14. Orders.
15. Acts done abroad and extent.
16. Short title, citation, consequential amendments, repeals, revocation and commencement.

Schedules

Schedule 1 - Consequential Amendments.
Schedule 2 - Repeals and Revocation.