D-Notices
01 January 1991
D-Notices
bacdoc April=1993
This file contains the full text of eight D-Notices issued on 12
January 1982 which are still in force.
Name: Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee (D-Notice
Committee)
Secretary to the Committee: Rear Admiral D M Pulvertaft
Deputy Secretary: Commander F N Ponsonby
Members of the Committee [at 14 May 1993]
Chairman: Sir Christopher France, Permanent Under Secretary,
Ministry of Defence
Chairman: Press and Broadcasting side: A C D Stuart, Former
Editor-in-Chief Thomson Regional Newspapers
Government representatives:
Sir Clive Whitmore, Permanent Under Secretary, Home Office
Moray Stewart, Second Under Secretary of State, Ministry of
Defence
Sir Timothy Daunt, Deputy Under Secretary, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
Press and Broadcasting representatives:
R Ayre, Controller, Editorial Policy, BBC
J D Bishop, Editor-in-Chief, Illustrated London News Group
G Elliott, Editor, The News, Portsmouth
R Hutchinson, Publishing Director, Jane's Information Group
S Kuttner, Managing Editor, News of the World
E J Laird, Editor-in-Chief, Daily Record & Sunday Mail, Glasgow
S Purvis, Editor-in-Chief, Independent Television News Ltd
B Shrimsley, Associate Editor, Daily Express
D Trelford, Editor, The Observer
C T Webb, Editor-in-Chief, The Press Association
D NOTICE NO 1
DEFENCE PLANS, OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY, STATE OF READINESS AND
TRAINING
1. The defensive capability of the United Kingdom, particularly
as to broad policy and overall strategy, is in general terms a
proper subject for public discussion. It is important, however,
that such discussion should not disclose details whose
publication could damage British interests by giving a potential
enemy important strategic or operational advantages.
2. It is requested therefore that information of the kind
listed below should not be disclosed without first seeking
advice:
a. defence plans or particulars of defence policy which
would enable a potential enemy to deduce details of our
intentions at any level of operations;
b. plans for the allocation, handling and deployment of
service resources to meet particular hostile situations,
and other contingency plans;
C. details of the work carried out at, or the specific
function of, defence establishments, installations or units
where such detail has not been officially released or is
not readily apparent;
d. the state of readiness and detailed operational
capability of individual units or formations;
e. operational movements of individual units or formations
(as distinct from routine peacetime movements);
f. particulars of current or projected tactics, trials,
techniques and training (including anti-interrogation
training).
D NOTICE NO 2
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT
1. Detailed information on defence equipment when prematurely
revealed can help potential enemies to devise effective
counter-measures more quickly, or speed up development of their
own weapons and equipment. This applies to all stages from
research and development to use in service. Even when major
equipment has been introduced, protection of information about
its operational use is necessary if it is to retain its full
effectiveness.
2. It is requested therefore that detailed information that has
not been officially released about defence equipment should not
be published without first seeking advice. The categories of
information referred to are:
a. code names and code numbers;
b. design details, technical specifications, materials and
production methods;
C. trials and new facilities for them, trials equipment,
dates and results;
d. performance figures and operational capabilities;
e. specifics of possible counter-measures;
f. total numbers ordered, rates of product