MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to The Telegraph newspaper, spies and civil servants may face up to 14 years in jail for leaking classified data, while UK officials who leak sensitive information about national economy, which threatens the country's security, can also get a jail sentence.
"It is crucial that the United Kingdom has a robust legislative response that meets the challenges posed by espionage in the 21st century," the expert review obtained by the media outlet reads.
Foreign spies who try to gain classified data in UK diplomatic missions abroad will also face prosecution in UK courts, the media outlet said citing the proposals. The current legislation allows to prosecute only UK nationals over such offense, and foreign nationals who committed crime in the United Kingdom.
The proposals were made in an attempt to change the Official Secrets Act 1989, which is still in effect in the United Kingdom. This act prescribes a maximum jail sentence of two years for the disclosure of classified data.
