Classified information in the United Kingdom

Classified information
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...

in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, now called Protectively Marked Information, is a system used to protect information from intentional or inadvertent release to unauthorised readers. The system is organised by the Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....

and is implemented throughout central and local government and the critical national infrastructure. The system is also used by private sector bodies which provide services to the public sector.

The system was formerly included in the Manual of Protective Security (MPS) which specified the impact of release and protection level required for each classification. Departments issued localised versions of the content of the MPS as appropriate to their operational needs.

The Security Policy Framework

Security Policy Framework

The Security Policy Framework is a set of high-level policies on security, mainly affecting the UK government and its suppliers.The SPF has 70 "mandatory requirements", which are grouped into 7 areas:*...

(SPF) now supersedes the Manual of Protective Security and contains the primary internal protective security policy and guidance on security and risk management for HM Government Departments and associated bodies. It is the source on which all localised security policies are based and has been made publicly available.

System of classification

The system uses five levels of classification, supplemented with pigeonhole keywords:. The keyword must be placed in all capital letters in the centre of the top and bottom of each page of a classified document. In descending order of secrecy these are:

Top secret

Information marked as Top secret is that which whose release is liable to cause considerable loss of life, international diplomatic incidents, or severely impact ongoing intelligence operations. Prior to the Second World War, the highest level was "Most Secret"; it was renamed so that the UK and US operated to a consistent system.

Secret

This marking is used for information whose side-effects may be life-threatening, disruptive to public order or detrimental to diplomatic relations with friendly nations.

Confidential

The effects of releasing information marked as Confidential include considerable infringement on personal liberties, material damage to diplomatic relations, or to seriously disrupt day-to-day life in the country.

Restricted

Information marked as Restricted is at a level where the release of the material will have effects such as significant distress to individuals, adversely affecting the effectiveness of military operations, or to compromise law enforcement.

Protect

Such information will cause distress to individuals, cause financial loss or improper gain, prejudice the investigation or facilitate the commission of a crime or disadvantage government in commercial or policy negotiations with others.

Handling

Access to protectively marked material is limited by a system of security clearance

Security clearance

A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information, i.e., state secrets, or to restricted areas after completion of a thorough background check. The term "security clearance" is also sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal...

.

Protectively marked material must be accounted for in a manner appropriate to its classification level and disposal must be in accordance with the MPS. The act of destruction or disposal is included in the accounting process.

Descriptors

Protectively marked material may also be marked with a descriptor, or privacy marking, which identifies sensitivities around distribution and handling.

Examples of descriptors include, but are not restricted to:

Budget
Commercial
Honours
Management
Medical
Personal
Policy
Staff
Visits (domestic or foreign royalty and ministers)

Nationality caveat

Protectively marked material may bear a nationality caveat
Caveat
Caveat , the third-person singular present subjunctive of the Latin cavere, means "warning" ; it can be shorthand for Latin phrases such as:...

, a descriptor defining which nationality groups it may be released to. By default material in the UK is not caveated by nationality, the classification being sufficient protection.

Examples of nationality caveats include, but are not limited to:

UK EYES ONLY
CANUKUS EYES ONLY — Canadian, UK or US citizens.
AUSCANNZUKUS
AUSCANNZUKUS
AUSCANNZUKUS is a naval C4 interoperability organization involving the nations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States...

— Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and USA (the UKUSA Community
UKUSA Community
The United Kingdom – United States of America Agreement is a multilateral agreement for cooperation in signals intelligence among the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It was first signed in March 1946 by the United Kingdom and the United States and later...

, also known as the "Five-Eyes").

Codewords

Dissemination of already protectively marked material may be further limited only to those with a legitimate need to know using compartmentalisation by use of codewords. Examples of compartmented material would include information about nuclear warheads, fusion

Nuclear fusion

Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...

, and naval

Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...

nuclear propulsion

Nuclear propulsion

Nuclear propulsion includes a wide variety of propulsion methods that fulfil the promise of the Atomic Age by using some form of nuclear reaction as their primary power source.- Surface ships and submarines :...

. In some case the existence of a codeworded compartment is itself classified.

Examples of codewords include, but are not limited to:

LOCSEN — has local sensitivity, and may not be shown to local officials.
NATSEN — has national sensitivity.
DEDIP, DESDEN — may not be shown to certain named officials.

Vetting

Access to protectively marked material is defined according to a vetting level which the individual has achieved. Vetting is carried out by individual departments to standards laid down in the MPS.

Vetting is intended to assure the department that the individual has not been involved in espionage, terrorism, sabotage or actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means. It also assures the department that the individual has not been a member of, or associated with, any organisation which has advocated such activities or has demonstrated a lack of reliability through dishonesty, lack of integrity or behaviour. Finally the process assures the department that the individual will not be subject to pressure or improper influence through past behaviour or personal circumstances.

Five levels of vetting exist:

Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC)

Personnel whose work involves access to locations where protectively marked material is held, in an otherwise secure manner. A CTC does not allow access to protectively marked material and would typically be required for reception, catering or cleaning staff in a public sector facility.

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

A Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS, commonly referred to as a BS and formerly known as Basic Check) allows routine and unrestricted access to material marked 'restricted' and below with occasional, supervised, access to confidential material where required in the course of one's duties. A BS confirms identity, signature, address and employment/education.

Security Check (SC)

Security Check clearance allows routine and uncontrolled access to material marked 'Secret' and below with occasional, supervised, access to top secret material where required in the course of one's duties.

SC clearance will normally consist of:

a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records and relevant departmental and police records
in accordance with the Security Service Act 1989, where it is necessary to protect national security or to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom from threats posed by persons outside the British Islands
British Islands
British Islands is a term within the law of the United Kingdom which since 1889 has referred collectively to the following four states:*the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ;...

, a check against Security Service
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...

records
credit reference
Credit reference
A credit reference is information, the name of an individual, or the name of an organization that can provide details about an individual's past track record with credit...

checks and a review of personal finances

In some circumstances further enquiries, including an interview with the subject, may be carried out. The review period is set by vetting department but ten years is the norm.

Security Check Enhanced (SCE)

Security Clearance Enhanced allows routine and uncontrolled access to material marked 'Secret' and below with supervised access to top secret material where required in the course of one's duties.

SCE is a new level of clearance intended for those that carry out regular work related to top secret information but do not require unrestricted access to top secret documents. It came into use July 2007.

SCE clearance will normally consist of:

a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records and relevant departmental and police records
in accordance with the Security Service Act 1989, where it is necessary to protect national security or to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom from threats posed by persons outside the British Islands, a check against Security Service records
credit reference checks and a review of personal finances
an interview with the person being vetted and/or references from people who are familiar with the person's character in both home and work environment.

Developed Vetting (DV)

Developed Vetting allows routine and unrestricted access to material marked 'top secret' and below.

DV clearance will normally consist of:

a check against the National Collection of Criminal Records and relevant departmental and police records
in accordance with the Security Service Act 1989, where it is necessary to protect national security or to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom from threats posed by persons outside the British Islands, a check against Security Service records
credit references checks and a review of personal finances
an interview with the person being vetted - to ensure there is no evidence of i) bribes received or paid and ii) an opportunity for being bribed or blackmailed due to debt or embarrassing expenditure
references from people who are familiar with the person's character in both the home and work environment. These may be followed by interviews. Enquiries will not necessarily be confined to past and present employers and nominated character referees.
clearance is re-examined following any stressful encounter, this includes a psychological re-evaluation.

DV clearance is subject to review over a period not exceeding eighteen months.