The Business Department is to consult on revised undertakings offered by Sepura Plc and Hytera Communications Corporation to mitigate national security risks.

Previously, in 2017, the government issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice in relation to the proposed acquisition of Sepura by Hytera. Following a public consultation, the then Secretary of State accepted undertakings made by the companies to mitigate concerns relating to Sepura’s supply of products to Airwave, a network used by emergency services in the UK.

Airwave is set to be replaced in this role by the Emergency Services Network – which Sepura also supplies products and repair services for. It is therefore necessary to revise the original undertakings made by Sepura and Hytera to continue mitigating any notional adverse effects of Hytera’s ownership.

The proposed undertakings are now out for public consultation until midday on 14 October, in accordance with the process set out in the Enterprise Act 2002.

The decision to consult follows further advice from the Home Office.

No decision whether to accept the undertakings will be taken by the Secretary of State until the consultation has concluded and the representations have been carefully considered.

The Secretary of State’s decision is made in a quasi-judicial capacity, which means that the Secretary of State must act, and be seen to act, in a scrupulously fair and impartial manner.