Practitioners’ Guide to the NSI Act

The Practitioners' Guide is currently being updated.

Step-by-step advice on the procedures in the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.

Sometimes, parties to a legal proceeding may need to use information classed as national security information. The National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (NSI Act) provides a framework for how national security information is disclosed and protected in criminal and civil proceedings. It balances the need to protect national security information with the principle of open justice. Ultimately, the NSI Act gives the court power to make orders it considers appropriate in the particular proceedings.