Source · Select Committees · National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
1st Report - Subsea telecommunications cables: resilience and crisis preparedness
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
HC 723
Published 19 September 2025
Recommendations
19
Rejected
The Government should explore new options for taking a more robust approach to interdicting suspicious...
Recommendation
The Government should explore new options for taking a more robust approach to interdicting suspicious vessels—for example applying piracy provisions to cables that land in the UK or seeking a limited extension of domestic criminal law jurisdiction. It should commission …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees but explicitly rejects applying piracy provisions to cables or commissioning an external legal opinion on this issue, citing the importance of consistency with UNCLOS, international partner views, and the risk of reciprocal action. It states options to counter suspicious vessels are kept under continuous review.
Cabinet Office
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