Police Act 1997

[F1 120A Refusal and cancellation of registration [F2 on grounds related to disclosure] E+W+N.I.

(1) The Secretary of State may refuse to include a person in the register maintained for the purposes of this Part if it appears to him that the registration of that person is likely to make it possible for information to become available to an individual who, in the Secretary of State’s opinion, is not a suitable person to have access to that information.

(2) The Secretary of State may remove a person from the register if it appears to the Secretary of State—

(a) that the registration of that person is likely to make it possible for information to become available to an individual who, in the Secretary of State’s opinion, is not a suitable person to have access to that information; or

(b) that the registration of that person has resulted in information becoming known to such an individual.

(3) In determining for the purposes of this section whether an individual is a suitable person to have access to any information, the Secretary of State may have regard, in particular, to—

(a) any information relating to that person which concerns a relevant matter;

(b) whether that person is included in any list mentioned in [F3 section 113C(3) or 113D(3)]; and

(c) any information provided to the Secretary of State under subsection (4).

(4) It shall be the duty of the chief officer of any police force to comply, as soon as practicable after receiving it, with any request by the Secretary of State to provide the Secretary of State with information which—

(a) is available to the chief officer;

(b) relates to—

(i) an applicant for registration;

(ii) a registered person; or

(iii) an individual who is likely to have access to information in consequence of the countersigning of applications by a particular applicant for registration or by a particular registered person;

and

(c) concerns a matter which the Secretary of State has notified to the chief officer to be a matter which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, is relevant to the determination of the suitability of individuals for having access to the information that may be provided in consequence of the countersigning of applications under this Part.

(5) In this section “relevant matter” has the same meaning as in section [F4 113A].

[F5 (6) For the purposes of this section references to a police force include any body mentioned in subsections (10)(a) to (i) and (11) of section 113B and references to a chief officer must be construed accordingly.]]

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 120A inserted (E.W.N.I.) (19.6.2001) by 2001 c. 16, s. 134(1); S.I. 2001/2223, art. 2(1)(c)

F2 Words in s. 120A inserted (6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 8; S.I. 2006/751, art. 2(c)(ii); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)

F3 Words in s. 120A(3)(b) substituted (6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 8(a); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

F4 Word in s. 120A(5) substituted (6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 8(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

F5 S. 120A(6) inserted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 165(2), 178(4)(d)(8); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(c); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(d); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 120A(3) applied (13.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/1194, reg. 3A(4) (as inserted by S.I. 2001/2498, reg. 2(3))

Commencement Information

I1 S. 120A in force at 3.12.2007 for N.I. by S.I. 2007/3342, art. 2(c)

[F6 120A Refusal and cancellation of registration: Scotland S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may refuse to include a person in, or may remove a person from, a register maintained under section 120 for the purposes of this Part if it appears to them that the registration of that person is likely to make it possible for information to become available to an individual who, in their opinion, is not a suitable person to have access to that information.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may also remove a person from any such register if it appears to them that the registration of that person has resulted in information becoming known to such an individual.

(3) In determining, for the purposes of this section, whether an individual is a suitable person to have access to information, the Scottish Ministers may have regard, in particular, to—

(a) any information relating to the individual which concerns a relevant matter (“relevant matter” having the same meaning as in section [F7 113A]);

(b) whether that person is included in any list mentioned in section [F8 113C(3) or 113D(3)];

(c) any information provided to them under subsection (4);

(d) any information provided to them by the chief officer of a police force in England and Wales or Northern Ireland in response to a request by them for such information as is available to that officer, relates to any such matter as is mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and concerns such matter as is mentioned in paragraph (c) of that subsection;

(e) anything which has been done—

(i) under subsection (1) or (2) or section 122(3); or

(ii) in England and Wales or Northern Ireland under the provisions of this Act which apply in England and Wales or Northern Ireland and correspond to subsection (1) or (2),

and any information on the basis of which that thing was done.

(4) A chief constable of a police force in Scotland shall comply, as soon as practicable after receiving it, with any request by the Scottish Ministers to provide them with information which—

(a) is available to him;

(b) relates to—

(i) an applicant for registration under section 120;

(ii) a person so registered;

(iii) an individual who is likely to have access to information in consequence of the countersigning of applications by a particular applicant for such registration or by a particular person so registered; and

(c) concerns a matter which they have notified the chief constable is a matter which in their opinion is relevant to the determination of the suitability of individuals for having access to information which may be provided by virtue of this Part.

(5) The Scottish Ministers shall pay to a police authority [F9 such fee as they consider appropriate].

[F10 (6) For the purposes of this section references to a police force include any body mentioned in subsections (10)(a) to (i) and (11) of section 113B and references to a chief officer must be construed accordingly.]

[F11 (7) In the case of such a body the reference in subsection (5) to a police authority must be construed as a reference to such body as is prescribed.]]

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 120A inserted (S.) (1.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(2), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2

F7 Word in s. 120A(3)(a) substituted (1.4.2006 for S.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 9(a); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e)

F8 Words in s. 120A(3)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 9(b); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e)

F9 Words in s. 120A(5) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 166(1), 178(4)(d)(8); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(c)

F10 S. 120A(6) inserted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 165(2), 178(4)(d)(8); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(c); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(d); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(b)

F11 S. 120A(7) inserted (1.4.2006 for S.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 9(c); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e)