Security Service Act 1989

advtanmoy 22/04/2023 3 minutes read

M-15

Security Service Act 1989

1989 CHAPTER 5

An Act to place the Security Service on a statutory basis; to enable certain actions to be taken on the authority of warrants issued by the Secretary of State, with provision for the issue of such warrants to be kept under review by a Commissioner; to establish a procedure for the investigation by a Tribunal or, in some cases, by the Commissioner of complaints about the Service; and for connected purposes.

[27th April 1989]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 The Security Service.

(1)There shall continue to be a Security Service (in this Act referred to as “the Service”) under the authority of the Secretary of State.

(2)The function of the Service shall be the protection of national security and, in particular, its protection against threats from espionage, terrorism and sabotage, from the activities of agents of foreign powers and from actions intended to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means.

(3)It shall also be the function of the Service to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom against threats posed by the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Islands.

(4)It shall also be the function of the Service to act in support of the activities of police forces , the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies in the prevention and detection of serious crime.

(5) Section 81(5) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (meaning of “prevention” and “detection”), so far as it relates to serious crime, shall apply for the purposes of this Act as it applies for the purposes ofthat Act.

Introductory Text

1. The Security Service.

2. The Director-General.

3. Warrants.

4. The Security Service Commissioner.

5. Investigation of complaints.

6. Expenses.

7. Short title, commencement and extent.

SCHEDULES

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SCHEDULE 1

Preliminary