(no subject)

[M J D Brown]

David Hansen wrote:

> Fortunately in my time in the civil service, long ago, I only had to
> deal with a few files classified SECRET and I only had to take such
> papers out of the office once (as it happens to a meeting with a
> variety of people including a couple who were senior police officers).
> The departmental instructions, which were no doubt common with other
> organisations and presumably emanated from some organisation (perhaps
> the security service) or committee with responsibility for such
> things,
> were that such papers had to be locked in a suitable container at all
> times while out of the office. Our security officer had a suitable
> container one could borrow for this purpose. I suspect that the
> instructions today are very similar, if not identical, today and they
> apply to the police as much as anyone else.

Unless the regulations have been relaxed (which I doubt)  it is
necessary to prepare first an inventory listing each document being
taken out, showing its file reference, date, copy number, security
grading, and number of pages.  One copy of the inventory would be placed
inside the security container and one copy given to the office registry.
Additionally, an authorisation, approved at a grade level depending on
the highest document classification would be given to the courier; its
purpose being to safeguard the container from being opened by request of
building exit or entry guards.  Senior officials, such as AC Quick may
be self-authorising, but are nevertheless subject to the same
regulations regarding inventories and security containers.

Ian Batten wrote:

Is ``Police SECRET'' the same as real SECRET?  After all, we could
start marking company material as SECRET, but that wouldn't make it
the same as MoD SECRET.  Does material generated by the police and
marked SECRET by them imply the same rigour of handling as stuff
marked SECRET by the intelligence services?

Most certainly.  Secret material is also created by private sector
companies and others in the course of their work on official contracts.
Pedantically, any item marked SECRET by anyone is presumed to be subject
to the appropriate regulations made under the Official Secrets Act, BUT
such grading would be discounted in the event of official investigations
unless the originator was empowered to make such a classification (again
a question of staff grading or duty function).  For the avoidance of
doubt it is prudent for all private individuals and commercial
organisations to avoid using the official security grading words.
Phrases such as COMPANY SECRET or XYZCO CONFIDENTIAL are appropriate and
would avoid hassle in the event of a visit by TPTB.

Mike.