Official Secrets Act 1911

12 Interpretation. U.K.

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 F1 . . .-General for England; and as respects Scotland, means the Lord Advocate; and as respects Ireland, means the Attorney . . . F2 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 . . . F3 include any communicating . . . F3 , 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 . . . F3 ; 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;

• [F4 The expression “munitions of war” includes the whole or any part of any ship, submarine, aircraft, tank or similar engine, arms and ammunition, torpedo, or mine, intended or adapted for use in war, and any other article, material, or device, whether actual or proposed, intended for such use;]

• The expression “superintendent of police” includes any police officer of a like or superior rank [F5 and any person upon whom the powers of a superintendent of police are for the purposes of this Act conferred by a Secretary of State];

• 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.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 12 repealed (30.9.1997) by 1997 c. 60, s. 3(2)(3), Sch.

F2 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 (c. 12), Sch. Pt. I and repealed (30.9.1997) by 1997 c. 60, ss. 3(2)(3), Sch.

F3 Words repealed by Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6, SIF 39:2), s. 16(4), Sch. 2

F4 Definition inserted by Official Secrets Act 1920 (c. 75), s. 9(2)

F5 Words inserted by Official Secrets Act 1920 (c. 75), Sch. 1