Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

18.—(1) This paragraph applies to information notified to the police under paragraph 10(1), 11(1) or 12(1).

(2) The Chief Constable may, for the purposes of the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences under this Schedule, supply information to which this paragraph applies to—

(a) a relevant Northern Ireland department,

(b) the Secretary of State,

(c) a person providing services to a relevant Northern Ireland department or the Secretary of State in connection with a relevant function,

for use for the purpose of verifying the information.

(3) In relation to information supplied to any person under sub-paragraph (2), the reference to verifying the information is a reference to—

(a) checking its accuracy by comparing it with information held—

(i) in the case of a relevant Northern Ireland department or the Secretary of State by that department or the Secretary of State in connection with the exercise of a relevant function, or

(ii) in the case of a person within sub-paragraph (2)(c), by that person in connection with the provision of services as mentioned there, and

(b) compiling a report of that comparison.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (5), the supply of information under this paragraph is to be taken not to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information (however arising).

(5) This paragraph does not authorise the doing of anything that contravenes the Data Protection Act 1998.

(6) This paragraph does not affect any power to supply information that exists apart from this paragraph.

(7) In this paragraph—

“relevant Northern Ireland department” means the Department for Employment and Learning, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety or the Department for Social Development;

“relevant function” means—

(a)

in relation to the Department for Employment and Learning, a function relating to employment or training,

(b)

in relation to the Department of the Environment, a function under Part 2 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981;

(c)

in relation to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, a function relating to health or social care;

(d)

in relation to the Department for Social Development, a function relating to social security or child support;

(e)

in relation to the Secretary of State, a function relating to passports or the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.