The new Schedule 3 powers were introduced in the
Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and
created in response to the 2018 Salisbury nerve-agent
attack.
Home Secretary said:
The threat posed to the UK from hostile state
activity is growing and ever changing.
These new powers send a very clear message to those
involved in it that this government has zero
tolerance for those acting against British interests.
But I am clear more must be done and we are
developing new legislation to bring our laws up to
date and create new ones to stay ahead of the threat.
Following parliamentary approval, the powers have today
come into effect and the police will now start bringing
them into operation.
A code of practice setting out the processes governing
how Schedule 3 will be used and overseen has been
published on GOV.UK.
It includes robust safeguards such as independent
oversight by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, and
provides special protections for confidential material
and journalistic sources.
The new powers are just one part of a wider effort to
tackle hostile state activity.
Last year, the government announced in the Queen’s
speech plans to introduce new legislation to
provide the security services and law enforcement
agencies with the tools they need to tackle the
evolving threat of hostile activity by foreign states.
This includes considering whether to follow allies in
adopting a form of foreign agent registration, updating
the Official Secrets Acts, as well as the case for
updating treason laws.
A fact sheet
explaining the powers and the codes of practice which
govern their use is also available on GOV.UK.
