86.This section makes it an offence to collect or possess information about specified persons which is likely to be useful to terrorists. Possessing such information is also an offence. Subsection (2) defines the persons relevant to this section. Subsection (5) provides that it is a defence to prove that a person had a reasonable excuse for the collection of such information: this defence is included in section 118(5) so imposes an evidential burden only on the defendant.
Commentary Part Vii: Northern Ireland Section 103: Terrorist information