Part 1: Companies House Reform Identity verification Section 67: Exemption from identity verification: national security grounds
This section inserts new section 1110C into the Companies Act 2006, which provides that the Secretary of State may by written notice exempt a person from identity verification requirements if it is necessary to do so: (a) in the interests of national security, or (b) for the purposes or preventing or detecting serious crime (subsection (1)).
	Section 1110C(2E) sets out the effects of the exemption for individuals subject to a written notice. This includes not requiring a statement of identity verification for a proposed officer who is named as a director in an application to form a company, not having to notify the Registrar if a person is made director, exempted people being able to act as a director without having their identity verified and without being notified to the Registrar, not requiring a statement of identity verification on delivery of document to the Registrar. This exemption also means that a company is not required to ensure that an unverified individual does not act as a director.
	Subsection (3F) defines the meaning of ‘crime’ and explains that it is means conduct that is either a criminal offence, or would be a criminal offence if it took place in any one part of the United Kingdom. It is ‘serious crime’ if it would lead, on conviction, to a maximum prison sentence of 3 years or more, or if the conduct involves the use of violence, results in substantial financial gain or is conduct by a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose.