UK plans tougher penalties for damage to undersea cables, pipelines
- UK proposes up to 14 years in prison and tougher fines for damaging critical undersea energy and telecommunications infrastructure
By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - The UK government has proposed tougher prison sentences and unlimited fines for those who intentionally damage critical undersea infrastructure, citing growing security threats, including suspicious Russian activity in British waters.
A White Paper published on Thursday outlines plans to modernize legislation dating back 140 years to strengthen the protection of undersea telecommunications cables, energy pipelines and electricity interconnectors.
Under the proposals, those who intentionally damage critical undersea energy and telecommunications infrastructure could face prison sentences of up to 14 years, alongside tougher financial penalties.
The plans would also introduce new security and resilience requirements for subsea telecommunications companies, obliging them to identify and manage risks to their networks.
The government would gain additional powers to direct telecommunications providers to take protective measures against threats such as sabotage and espionage. The proposals also include safeguards for fiber-optic sensing technology, which can detect activity at sea but may pose national security risks if sensitive data is compromised.
“Undersea cables are the hidden backbone of modern Britain, carrying the data we rely on every day to message friends and family, do our banking, and run our businesses,” Telecoms Minister Ian Murray said in a statement.
He added: “We intend to modernise those laws with tougher penalties, stronger requirements on industry and new powers to protect our national security, making sure the UK’s critical infrastructure is fit for the threats of today and tomorrow.”
According to the government, undersea fibre-optic cables carry around 99% of the UK’s international data, while subsea pipelines provide 74% of its gas supply. Electricity cables also support energy imports from Europe and connections to offshore wind farms.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks also said the legislation would strengthen deterrence and help prevent, detect and respond to threats against the country’s energy supply.
The publication of the White Paper marks the start of a 12-week public consultation seeking views from industry, experts and the public.
Aysu Biçer