Part 1: Espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers Foreign interference Section 13: Foreign interference: general
Section 13 makes provision for three offences of foreign interference. There are four concepts that are common to all three offences: interference effects (section 14); prohibited conduct (section 15); the foreign power condition (section 32), and conduct and courses of conduct (see subsection (4) to (6)).
	Subsection (1) provides that a person commits an offence of foreign interference if: the person engages in conduct that is prohibited conduct intending the prohibited conduct, or a course of conduct which it forms part, to have an interference effect. The foreign power condition must be met in relation to the prohibited conduct.
	Subsection (2) provides that a person commits an offence if: the person engages in conduct that is prohibited conduct, and is reckless as to whether the prohibited conduct, or a course of conduct which it forms part, will have an interference effect. The foreign power condition must be met in relation to the prohibited conduct.
	Subsection (3) provides for an offence in which a person engages in a course of conduct with one or more others. This offence does not require the person to engage in prohibited conduct, for which subsection (1) or (2) are available. Instead, someone other than the person must engage in prohibited conduct, and the person must intend or believe that that will happen. It is also necessary for the foreign power condition to be met in relation to the person’s conduct (not the prohibited conduct), and for the person to intend the course of conduct to have an interference effect. This ensures that a person can commit a foreign interference offence where the person does not carry out the prohibited conduct themselves, but has others do so.
	Subsection (4) provides that for the purposes of subsections (1)(c) and (2)(c) a course of conduct includes a course of conduct engaged in by the person alone, or by the person and one or more other persons. Subsections (5) and (6) makes clear when conduct outside the UK will be relevant.
	Subsection (7) states that the maximum penalty available for an offence under this section is 14 years.
	Subsection (8) states that "interference effect", has the meaning given by section 14, and that "prohibited conduct" has the meaning given by section 15.