Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1975

13 Extension of classes of information in s. 20 of principal Act

For section 20(1) of the principal Act (unlawful collection, etc. of information) there shall be substituted the following subsection:—

“(1) No person shall, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof of which lies on him)—

(a) collect, record, publish, communicate or attempt to elicit any information with respect to any person to whom this paragraph applies which is of such a nature as is likely to be useful to terrorists:

(b) collect or record any information which is of such a nature as is likely to be useful to terrorists in planning or carrying out any act of violence; or

(c) have in his possession any record of or document containing any such information as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above ;

and if any person contravenes this section, he shall be liable—

(i) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding £400, or both ;

(ii) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine, or both.

(1A) Subsection (1)(a) above applies to any of the following persons, that is to say—

(a) any constable or member of Her Majesty's forces ;

(b) any person holding judicial office;

(c) any officer of any court; and

(d) any person employed for the whole of his time in the prison service in Northern Ireland.”