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Police given new powers to tackle hostile state activity

The Home Office has announced that police officers now have powers to stop, question, search and detain individuals at UK ports in relation to espionage and foreign interference.

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.

A code of practice setting out the processes governing how Schedule 3 will be used and overseen has been published, including robust safeguards such as independent oversight by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, alongside special protections for confidential material and journalistic sources.

Home Secretary Priti Patel 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.”

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.

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