A UK Armed Forces member, Thomas Newsome, has been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act, according to Scotland Yard. The charges include offences contrary to section 2 and section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1989, with prosecutors alleging that he made a “damaging disclosure of information relating to defence” on 17 April. The charges come after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
Mr Newsome has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. He was initially arrested on Tuesday and detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The Crown Prosecution Service alleges that he made the damaging disclosure of information relating to defence without lawful authority and that he had in his possession or under his control, documents which he failed to take sufficient care of to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of those documents, which is expected of a person in his position.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the arrest of a serving member of the armed forces but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. The Official Secrets Act is a UK law that provides protection for state secrets and sensitive information. It is illegal to disclose classified information without authorisation. The Act covers a wide range of information, including military information, and is designed to prevent unauthorised disclosure that could damage national security.
