Defence Legislation

Laws and policies relating to military operations, defense procurement, armed forces administration, and national security strategy.

The Data Protection Act 2018 (Qualifying Competent Authorities) Regulations 2025

The Regulations specified the public bodies now recognized as 'qualifying competent authorities' permitted to engage in joint, national security-related personal data processing with UK intelligence services under the Data Protection Act 2018.


These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), specify which public bodies qualify as 'qualifying competent authorities' to engage in joint processing of personal data with intelligence services under Part 4 of the DPA, a power enabled by the Data (Use and Access) Act to assist in safeguarding national security; the instrument lists various government departments, police forces, customs, and judicial/monitoring bodies as qualifying authorities, citing consultation with the Information Commissioner and Parliamentary approval, and stipulates that the regulations come into force twenty-one days after being made and extend across the UK.

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The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) (Revocation) Order 2025

Published: Mon 20th Oct 25

The Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2017, which listed 'Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham' as a name for Al-Qa’ida, was revoked to remove that specific name association.


This Order, made by the Secretary of State under the Terrorism Act 2000, revokes the Proscribed Organisations (Name Change) Order 2017, effectively removing the designation that specified 'Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham' as another name for the proscribed organisation Al-Qa’ida across the United Kingdom.

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The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025

Revised codes of practice for port examination officers were implemented under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000.


These regulations implement revised codes of practice for examining officers under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000.

The Secretary of State revised the codes, published drafts for consultation, considered feedback, and laid the final versions before Parliament.

The updated codes govern the exercise of powers at UK ports and the Northern Ireland border related to combating terrorism and hostile state activity, aiming for better clarity, training, and adherence to legal frameworks.

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The Aviation Security (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

The regulations amended UK aviation security legislation by removing requirements for airport supplies.


The Aviation Security (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, effective October 31, 2025, amend existing UK aviation security legislation.

Specifically, the regulations remove Chapter 9 (airport supplies) from Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998.

These changes aim to streamline security processes, and a full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the anticipated lack of significant consequences on any sector.

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The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites under Section 128) (Amendment) Order 2025

Published: Mon 8th Sept 25

The 2025 Order amended the 2007 Order to designate Forest Lodge, Windsor Great Park as a protected site under Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.


The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites under Section 128) (Amendment) Order 2025, effective September 29, 2025, amends the 2007 Order by adding Forest Lodge, Windsor Great Park to the list of sites protected under Section 128 of the 2005 Act.

This makes trespassing on the specified portion of Forest Lodge an offense.

The amendment involves updating article 2(1)(g) and adding article 2(17) and Schedule 16 to the 2007 Order, with a map delineating the protected area.

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The Civil Nuclear Police Authority (Borrowing Limit) (Amendment) Order 2025

Published: Mon 14th Jul 25

The Civil Nuclear Police Authority's borrowing limit was increased from £10 million to £30 million.


The Civil Nuclear Police Authority (Borrowing Limit) (Amendment) Order 2025, effective September 18, 2025, amends the Energy Act 2004.

It raises the CNPA's borrowing limit from £10 million to £30 million, enabling the authority to adequately fund its responsibilities for protecting civil nuclear sites and materials in England, Wales, and Scotland.

The amendment was approved by the Treasury.

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The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Suitability for Fixed Term Recall) Order 2025

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 was amended to change the criteria for automatic release for recalled prisoners, with stricter conditions introduced to enhance public safety, and a new schedule of offenses listed that preclude automatic release.


This Order modifies the Criminal Justice Act 2003, changing the conditions for automatic release of recalled prisoners in England and Wales.

It introduces stricter criteria, including a new schedule of offenses that disqualify prisoners from automatic release after 28 days (or 14 days for sentences less than 12 months).

The revised criteria consider factors such as age, sentence length, offense type, terrorist-related activity, and multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) levels.

The amendments aim to improve public safety by retaining those deemed a higher risk in custody for extended periods.

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The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities and Designated Senior Officers) Regulations 2025

The 2025 regulations amended Schedule 4 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, modifying which public authorities could access communications data and for what purposes, adding some agencies while removing others.


These regulations amend the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, specifying which public authorities can access communications data and for what reasons.

The changes add several new authorities, like the Department for Business and Trade and the Security Industry Authority, while others, such as some ambulance services, lose this power.

The amendments also fine-tune access for existing authorities, such as the Department for Transport, by limiting access depending on the specific agency within the department.

These alterations are intended to improve the targeting of investigations while maintaining safeguards against misuse.

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