Line to take - LTT68 - Required for purposes of national security

• FOI/EIR: FOI
• Section/Regulation: s24
• Issue: Required for purposes of national security
• Source: Decision Notice
• Details: [Redacted name] / Northern Ireland Office (27 February 2007)
• Related Lines to Take: LTT54
• Related Documents: FS50074788; Scottish Parliament Research Paper - ECHR Incorporation into domestic law; Stroud’s Judicial Dictionary Page 1660 and Pages 2374 to 2377; R v Leeds City Council, Ex parte Leeds Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd (1997) 73 P&CR 70; Sunday Times v United Kingdom (1979) 2 EHRR 245 at 275 E Ct HR para 59; Handyside v United Kingdom (1976) 1 EHRR 737 at 753-754, E Ct HR, para 48; MOJ Guide to Data Sharing Legal Guidance Nov 2003
• Contact: RM
• Date: 21/08/2007
• Policy Reference: LTT68
• © Copyright Information Commissioner's Office, re-used with permission
• Original source linked from here: LTT

Line to take

The section 24 exemption only applies where the exemption itself is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The word required in this context means reasonably necessary and sets a high threshold for the use of this exemption. It is not sufficient for the information sought simply to relate to national security, there must be evidence of specific and real threats to national security before the exemption is engaged.

Now I feel stiupd. That's cleared it up for me