Courts Act 2003

[F1 Restrictions on disclosure E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 5 paras. 9A-9C and cross-headings inserted (3.11.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 41, 153; S.I. 2008/2712, art. 2, Sch. para. 6 (subject to arts. 3, 4)

9B (1) A person to whom information is disclosed under paragraph [F2 9A], or this sub-paragraph, may disclose the information to any person to whom its disclosure is necessary or expedient in connection with facilitating the making [F3 , by the relevant court or a fines officer, of such a decision, order or application as is mentioned in paragraph 9A(1B).] E+W

(2) A person to whom such information is disclosed commits an offence if the person—

(a) discloses or uses the information, and

(b) the disclosure is not authorised by sub-paragraph (1) or (as the case may be) the use is not for the purpose of facilitating the making of such a decision [F4 , order or application as is mentioned in paragraph 9A(1B)].

(3) But it is not an offence under sub-paragraph (2)—

(a) to disclose any information in accordance with any enactment or order of a court [F5 or of a tribunal established by or under an Act] or for the purposes of any proceedings before a court; or

(b) to disclose [F6 or use—

(i) any information which is in the form of a summary or collection of information so framed as not to enable information relating to any particular person to be ascertained from it, or

(ii)] any information which has previously been lawfully disclosed to the public.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under sub-paragraph (2) to prove that the person reasonably believed that the disclosure or use was lawful.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (2) is [F7 liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment—

(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or

(ii) to a fine, or

(iii) to both;

(b) on summary conviction—

(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or

(ii) to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or

(iii) to both.]

[F8 (6) Sub-paragraph (5)(b) applies in relation to offences committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (general limit on power of magistrates' courts to impose imprisonment) as if the reference to 12 months were a reference to 6 months.

(7) A prosecution for an offence under sub-paragraph (2) may be instituted only by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.]]

Textual Amendments

F2 Word in Sch. 5 para. 9B(1) substituted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(6)(a), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)

F3 Words in Sch. 5 para. 9B(1) substituted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(6)(b), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)

F4 Words in Sch. 5 para. 9B(2)(b) substituted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(7), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)

F5 Words in Sch. 5 para. 9B(3)(a) inserted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(8)(a), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)

F6 Words in Sch. 5 para. 9B(3)(b) inserted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(8)(b), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)

F7 Words in Sch. 5 para. 9B(5) substituted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(9), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)

F8 Sch. 5 para. 9B(6)(7) inserted (11.12.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 27(10), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2981, art. 2(a)