In a significant development to safeguard national security, former UK Armed Forces personnel engaged in training foreign militaries abroad can now face prosecution under new provisions within the National Security Act. This step follows revelations that a group of ex-Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Army pilots had been providing training to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force through contracts with a private South African company.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had previously raised alarms about these activities, emphasising the attraction of high salaries and the potential risks associated with sharing sensitive military information. With the implementation of the new Act, this concern has been addressed through several key provisions, including Section 1, which deals with ‘obtaining or disclosing protected information.’ Importantly, the Act broadens the definition of ‘information’ to encompass tactics, techniques, and procedures.
