Recommendation 17

As the international security environment worsens, we expect the number of national security prosecution cases to rise. We urge the Government to avoid characterising the failure of the Cash/Berry case as a one-off peculiarity created solely by outdated legislation: there are structural parallels in the National Security Act 2023 which will require careful handling to avoid comparable issues recurring. For example, it is plausible that there will be diplomatic sensitivities around labelling individuals as members of a foreign intelligence service—and hence the precise wording of evidence statements will remain of utmost importance. (Conclusion, Paragraph 125)