Photographers could end up in prison for ten years under changes to terrorism laws due to come into power next month.

The Counter Terrorism Act 2008, which updates and amends the Terrorism Act 2000, contains rules targeting gathering information on police officers and members of the armed forces.

Section 76 of the Act states: “A person commits an offence who elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been a member of Her Majesty’s forces, a member of any of the intelligence services or a constable which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”

The Act goes on to say it would be a defence for a person to prove that “they had a reasonable excuse for their action” with convictions carrying a fine, imprisonment or both as punishments.

The new Act is expected to strengthen existing powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 for police to stop and search photographers and prevent them from taking pictures in public.

In October, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists Jeremy Dear met with the Cabinet to discuss the union’s concerns over police monitoring of photographers in public places.

The new Act was given royal ascent in November and is due to come into force on 16 February.