{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016/section-59",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016/section-59.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2016/25",
  "legislation_title": "Investigatory Powers Act 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/investigatory-powers-act-2016",
  "path": "section/59",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "59",
  "heading": "Offence of making unauthorised disclosures",
  "text": "(1) A person who fails to comply with section 57(1) commits an offence.\n(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales—\n(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or 6 months, if the offence was committed before 2 May 2022), or\n(ii) to a fine,\nor to both;\n(b) on summary conviction in Scotland—\n(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or\n(ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,\nor to both;\n(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland—\n(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or\n(ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,\nor to both;\n(d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine, or to both.\n(3) In proceedings against any person for an offence under this section in respect of any disclosure, it is a defence for the person to show that the person could not reasonably have been expected, after first becoming aware of the matter disclosed, to take steps to prevent the disclosure.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 59(2)(a)(i) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 59(2)(a)(i) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 59 in force at 27.6.2018 by S.I. 2018/652, reg. 8(v)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/25/section/59",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:06:02.282680+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}