Defence Legislation

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

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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The Road Vehicles (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

The 2025 regulations amended Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/79, updated terminology, introduced a new Annex X for extending GB type-approvals for eCall systems, and allowed for the equivalent treatment of certain EU and GB-approved eCall components.


The Road Vehicles (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 amend Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/79, updating language in Article 5 to use terms such as 'must' instead of 'shall have to'.

The regulations introduce a new Annex X outlining the procedure for extending GB type-approvals for eCall in-vehicle systems operating over circuit-switched networks.

They also allow EU-approved eCall components and separate technical units to be treated similar to GB-approved parts, enabling exemptions from some tests.

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The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025

The Terrorism Act 2000 was amended to add Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult, and Russian Imperial Movement to the list of proscribed organizations.


This order amends the Terrorism Act 2000 by adding Palestine Action, Maniacs Murder Cult (MMC), and Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) to the list of proscribed organizations.

The order cites the Secretary of State's belief that these organizations engage in terrorism, and it was approved by both Houses of Parliament.

The order also includes an explanatory note which clarifies that the entry for Palestine Action refers specifically to the UK based organization, and declares no significant impact on public or private sectors is expected, therefore a full impact assessment was not considered necessary.

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The Haiti (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The 2025 regulations amended the 2022 Haiti sanctions regulations to incorporate the broader scope of the UN Security Council Resolution 2752 (2024) arms embargo, updated related trade restrictions, and clarified associated offenses and penalties.


The Haiti (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2022 regulations to incorporate UN Security Council Resolution 2752 (2024).

This resolution expands the arms embargo on Haiti to include a broader spectrum of military goods and related items.

The amendments update definitions, clarify prohibitions on the transfer of military technology and the provision of associated financial services or technical assistance, and introduce new offenses relating to these broader sanctions.

The regulations also modify existing penalties to match the updated prohibitions.

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The National Security Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025

The National Security Act 2023 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2025 brought into force Part 4 of the National Security Act 2023, establishing a foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.


These regulations, the second set under the National Security Act 2023, bring into effect Part 4 of that Act, specifically the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.

This scheme starts on July 1st, 2025, and applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The regulations cite the power conferred by section 100(1) of the 2023 Act and provide for detailed commencement information.

An impact assessment is available online and in hard copy.

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The National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Exemptions for Certain Foreign Power Investment Funds, Education, Government Administration and Public Bodies) Regulations 2025

The regulations exempted certain foreign investment funds, educational and governmental services, and UK public body arrangements from the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.


These regulations, enacted under the National Security Act 2023, exempt specific categories of activities from the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme.

The exemptions cover certain foreign power investment funds focused primarily on overseas investments, educational arrangements supporting students in the UK, administrative and technical services provided by foreign powers, and arrangements involving UK public bodies (excluding those related to political influence).

The aim is to streamline the registration process while maintaining national security.

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The National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Publication) Regulations 2025

The regulations established a process for publishing information registered under the National Security Act 2023's foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme, with specified exceptions and time limits.


These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to publish information from the National Security Act 2023's foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme on a public website. Publication includes details of registered foreign activity and foreign influence arrangements, subject to exceptions for national security, crime prevention, individual safety, and commercially sensitive information.

The information remains published for up to ten years, depending on the arrangement's duration.

The regulations specify precisely which information must be made public for each registration type.

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The Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Exemption) (Aviation Security) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The 2025 regulations amended the 2010 Private Security Industry Act exemptions for aviation security, clarifying licensing and updating existing references, and revoked the 2012 amendment regulations.


These regulations amend the 2010 Private Security Industry Act exemptions concerning aviation security.

They clarify licensing requirements for individuals involved in airport security (screening, access control) and update references.

The changes exempt certain persons from licensing under the 2001 Act due to alternative arrangements being deemed sufficient for maintaining aviation security.

The regulations also revoke the 2012 amendment regulations.

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