The correct sharing and classification of intelligence, especially concerning the national and internal security (as well as the national interest) of the United Kingdom are imperative, therefore, the following classification levels have been developed.
These classification levels will be maintained by the Home Secretary in coordination with Downing Street and the Prime Minister, who will be responsible for assigning security clearances.
Effective immediately, the following security levels now exist:
UNCLASSIFIED:
Information for the general public that can be released to tourists and civilians.
PROTECT:
Information for low-level agents within agencies that do not for the high command or senior staff of an agency.
RESTRICTED:
Information for senior-level agents within agencies, such as Senior Staff, Board of Directors and Agency Advisors.
CONFIDENTIAL:
Information for Department Directors (with the exception of business, welfare and financial departments)
SECRET:
Information for the Cabinet, Security Council and high-level Downing Street advisors.
TOP-SECRET:
Information disclosed only to the Royal Family, King, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Downing Street Chief of Staff concerning high-level national security issues. Can be disclosed to Cabinet on a case-by-case basis.
EXTREMELY CLASSIFIED INFORMATION:
Information disclosed only to the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Prime Minister.
SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION:
Intelligence which was obtained via sensitive means; and if those means were disclosed to the public, would cause grave damage to national security, the national interest, or our diplomatic relations. This information is only known by the Prime Minister directly and given to other officials on his personal decision.
ALL INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENTS MUST NOW RECIEVE CLASSIFICATIONS. VIOLATING THESE CLASSIFICATIONS OR SHARING INTELLIGENCE WITH A LOWER-LEVEL CLASSIFICATION WHO DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS WILL BE CONSIDERED A VIOLATION OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT.
VIOLATING ECI OR SCI CLASSIFICATIONS WILL RESULT IN 5 MONTHS OF IMPRISONMENT.
Regards,
KeirStarmer
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
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