Chas x posts from RT Mechanics thread

[Toplights]

OSA,once signed never recinded imo.I sighned it many years ago when working in the Aerospace industry,and as far as i'm concerned its still in force.

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by toplights941

OSA,once signed never recinded imo.I sighned it many years ago when working in the Aerospace industry,and as far as i'm concerned its still in force.

and your right to think that, there is no "expires" date on it, once you have signed it, thats that.
from another who signed it in the Distant past, due to the job i was doing at the time.

[s60ben]

The OSA doesn't have to be signed in any case.

The OSA is an Act of Law - Hence Official Secrets ACT and it binds everybody within the UK.

The "signing of it" is purely a ceremonial act as such, and a reminder to those people it particularly applies to, that their balls are in a vice should they step incorrectly.

[MacV70T5]

The OSA has different levels and was revised 1989 the following is an extract from the latest and up to date part of the Act covering Security and Intelligence.

__________________________________________________ ________________
Security and intelligence.E+W+S+N.I..(1)A person who is or has been—.
(a)a member of the security and intelligence services; or.
(b)a person notified that he is subject to the provisions of this subsection,.
is guilty of an offense if without lawful authority he discloses any information, document or other article relating to security or intelligence which is or has been in his possession by virtue of his position as a member of any of those services or in the course of his work while the notification is or was in force.
(2)The reference in subsection (1) above to disclosing information relating to security or intelligence includes a reference to making any statement which purports to be a disclosure of such information or is intended to be taken by those to whom it is addressed as being such a disclosure..
(3)A person who is or has been a Crown servant or government contractor is guilty of an offense if without lawful authority he makes a damaging disclosure of any information, document or other article relating to security or intelligence which is or has been in his possession by virtue of his position as such but otherwise than as mentioned in subsection (1) above..
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) above a disclosure is damaging if—.
(a)it causes damage to the work of, or of any part of, the security and intelligence services; or.
(b)it is of information or a document or other article which is such that its unauthorized disclosure would be likely to cause such damage or which falls within a class or description of information, documents or articles the unauthorized disclosure of which would be likely to have that effect..
(5)It is a defense for a person charged with an offense under this section to prove that at the time of the alleged offense he did not know, and had no reasonable cause to believe, that the information, document or article in question related to security or intelligence or, in the case of an offense under subsection (3), that the disclosure would be damaging within the meaning of that subsection..
(6)Notification that a person is subject to subsection (1) above shall be effected by a notice in writing served on him by a Minister of the Crown; and such a notice may be served if, in the Minister’s opinion, the work undertaken by the person in question is or includes work connected with the security and intelligence services and its nature is such that the interests of national security require that he should be subject to the provisions of that subsection..
(7)Subject to subsection (8) below, a notification for the purposes of subsection (1) above shall be in force for the period of five years beginning with the day on which it is served but may be renewed by further notices under subsection (6) above for periods of five years at a time..
(8)A notification for the purposes of subsection (1) above may at any time be revoked by a further notice in writing served by the Minister on the person concerned; and the Minister shall serve such a further notice as soon as, in his opinion, the work undertaken by that person ceases to be such as is mentioned in subsection (6) above..
(9)In this section “security or intelligence” means the work of, or in support of, the security and intelligence services or any part of them, and references to information relating to security or intelligence include references to information held or transmitted by those services or by persons in support of, or of any part of, them..

__________________________________________________ _____________

There is a similar document which is available for the Data Protection Act. I would suggest if any person is in a position of responsibility and has access to Information covered by the Act should read it if they contemplating releasing that information to the Public. It is a criminal offense.

[Toplights]

I actually signed this in the late 60s,when working for Hawkers.

[RWD]

I had to sign it when doing work experience at Vickers (a few years ago now!), as far as I recall its binding forever!

[Simeyb]

Any news yet on LV having a word with their (for the moment) employee?

[Toplights]

The Hitcher keeps going awol.

[MacV70T5]

Somebody referred to the suggestion that we are all covered by the official secret act. I do not believe that this is totally true as the Act as above refers to persons that have access to information covered within the act. I held a commission with the TA and certainly at that time was covered by the Act. The Act was revised in 1989 to cover various ambiguities regarding who is covered and who is not.
Not wishing to derail this topic and would certainly not wish to take any sides but in the case of releasing information to the public that is covered under the Data Protection Act I would advice the person who may have accidentally released this information seek legal advice as it is now classed as a criminal offense. If it can be proved as a malicious attempt to slander or libel another I would be very worried. I am however not sure about the personal information given to a Forum to register is covered under the Act.

The Data Protection Act 1998 is as follows:
Your Firm and the Data Protection Act

All businesses that keep any information on living and identifiable people must comply with the Data Protection Act. The Act applies to any computerized or manual records containing personal information about people.

All businesses using personal data must comply with the data protection principles - enforceable rules for handling personal information - and some will also have to register (or notify) that they use personal information. This briefing covers:

•Whether you need to register.
•How you can comply with the Act.
•What circumstances are likely to trigger action by the data protection authorities.
•Some particular danger areas.


I post this information to help persons who may or may not be aware of the current situation regarding the OSA and the DPA I hope it is useful. It is of course subject to interpretation by those involved or having problems. I am not an expert and always open to advice that can be offered by persons with a greater knowledge than myself on this subject.

[RobbieH]

Originally Posted by MacV70T5

but in the case of releasing information to the public that is covered under the Data Protection Act I would advice the person who may have accidentally released this information seek legal advice as it is now classed as a criminal offense. If it can be proved as a malicious attempt to slander or libel another I would be very worried. I am however not sure about the personal information given to a Forum to register is covered under the Act.

Oh it was not accidental and definitely malicious.