Policy paper

National Security Bill: factsheets

Factsheets giving details of the different measures contained in the National Security Bill.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 6 June 2022
• Last updated: 24 June 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 24 June 2025

     Updated to clarify that the factsheets were produced during the passage of the National Security Bill 2023 which received royal assent on 11 July 2023.

  2. 1 April 2025

     Added a link to the new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme guidance in the first factsheet.

  3. 19 August 2024

     Updated the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme factsheet because it is no longer expected that the scheme's requirements will come into force in 2024.

  4. 3 May 2024

     Foreign Influence Registration Scheme Factsheet updated.

  5. 12 February 2024

     Foreign Influence Registration Scheme factsheet: added a link to join the FIRS research panel.

  6. 13 July 2023

     Updated following Royal Assent.

  7. 12 July 2023

     Updated the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme factsheet.

  8. 28 March 2023

     Foreign Influence Registration Scheme factsheet added.

  9. 13 March 2023

     Removed Further details about the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: National Security Bill factsheet as information at of date.

  10. 23 February 2023

      Factsheet on National Security Bill and journalistic freedoms added.

  11. 10 January 2023

      Updated the factsheet 'Further details about the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme'.

  12. 20 December 2022

      Addition of 'Further details about the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: National Security Bill factsheet'.

  13. 8 September 2022

      Following factsheets added: 'Receiving a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service', 'Financial and property investigation powers', 'Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)' and 'Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)'. The 'Police powers' factsheet has also been renamed to 'Powers of arrest and detention'.

  14. 6 June 2022

      First published.

Documents

Foreign Influence Registration Scheme factsheet

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Foreign interference: National Security Bill factsheet

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Journalistic freedoms: National Security Bill factsheet

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New espionage offences: factsheet

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Prohibited places: National Security Bill 2022 factsheet

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Sabotage: National Security Bill factsheet

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State link: National Security Bill factsheet

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Obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service: National Security Bill factsheet

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State threats aggravating factor: National Security Bill factsheet

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Financial and property investigation powers: National Security Bill factsheet

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Powers of arrest and detention: National Security Bill factsheet

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Power of search and seizure: National Security Bill factsheet

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Protected material definition under Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019: National Security Bill factsheet

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State threats prevention and investigation measures (STPIMs): National Security Bill factsheet

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Serious Crime Act amendment: National Security Bill factsheet

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Preparatory conduct: National Security Bill factsheet

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Details

On Tuesday 11 July 2023, the National Security Bill received royal assent and will now be known as the National Security Act 2023.

These documents explain the details of the current National Security Bill on the following topics:

State threats offences

• espionage

• prohibited places

• sabotage

• foreign interference

• obtaining a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service

• state link

• aggravating factor

State threats tools and powers

• powers of arrest and detention

• power of search and seizure

• financial and property investigation powers

• protected material definition

• state threats prevention and investigation measures (STPIMS)

Foreign Influence Registration Scheme

Additional provisions

• Serious Crime Act amendment