Official Secrets Act 1911

12 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

• Any reference to a place belonging to His Majesty includes a place belonging to any department of the Government of the United Kingdom or of any British possessions, whether the place is or is not actually vested in His Majesty;

• The expression " Attorney-General " means the Attorney or Solicitor-General for England ; and as "inspects Scotland, means the Lord Advocate; and as respects-Ireland, means the Attorney or Solicitor-General for Ireland and, if the prosecution is instituted in any court out of-the United Kingdom, means the person who in that court is Attorney-General, or exercises the like functions as the Attorney-General in England ;

• Expressions referring to communicating or receiving include any communicating or receiving, whether in whole or in part, and whether the sketch, plan, model, article, note, document, or information itself or the substance, effect, or description thereof only be communicated or received ; expressions referring to obtaining or retaining any sketch, plan, model, article, note, or document, include the copying or causing to be copied the whole or any part of any sketch, plan, model, article, note, or document; and expressions referring to the communication of any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document include the transfer or transmission of the sketch, plan, model, article, note or document;

• The expression " document " includes part of a document ;

• The expression " model " includes design, pattern, and specimen;

• The expression " sketch " includes any photograph or other mode of representing any place or thing;

• The expression " superintendent of police " includes any police officer of a like or superior rank ;

• The expression " office under His Majesty " includes. any office or employment in or under any department of the Government of the United Kingdom, or of any British possession ;

• The expression " offence under this Act " includes, any act, omission, or other thing which is punishable under this Act.