(1)Information obtained by or on behalf of the Director in connection with the exercise of any of his functions [F2under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8] may be disclosed by him if the disclosure is for the purposes of any of the following—
(a)any criminal investigation which is being or may be carried out, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;
(b)any criminal proceedings which have been or may be started, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;
(c)the exercise of the Director’s functions [F3under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8] ;
(d)the exercise by the prosecutor of functions under Parts 2, 3 and 4;
(e)the exercise by the Scottish Ministers of their functions under Part 5;
(f)the exercise by a customs officer or a constable of his functions under Chapter 3 of Part 5;
[F4(fa)the exercise of any functions of SOCA, another Director or the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8;]
(g)safeguarding national security;
(h)investigations or proceedings outside the United Kingdom which have led or may lead to the making of an external order within the meaning of section 447;
(i)the exercise of a designated function.
F5(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5)If the Director makes a disclosure of information for a purpose specified in subsection (1) he may make any further disclosure of the information by the person to whom he discloses it subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.
(6)Such a person must not further disclose the information in contravention of the conditions.
(7)A disclosure under this section is not to be taken to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
(8)But nothing in this section authorises the making of a disclosure—
(a)which contravenes the Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29);
(b)which is prohibited by Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23).
[F6(8A)This section does not affect a power to disclose which exists apart from this section.
(8B)This section applies to information obtained before the coming into force of subsection (10) as well as to information obtained after the coming into force of that subsection.]
(9)A designated function is a function which the Secretary of State thinks is a function of a public nature and which he designates by order.
[F7(10)In this section “the Director” has the same meaning as in section 435.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 438 heading substituted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(2); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F2Words in s. 438(1) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(a); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F3Words in s. 438(1)(c) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(b); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F4S. 438(1)(fa) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(c); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F5S. 438(2)-(4) repealed (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(4), Sch. 14; S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a)(d) (with arts. 3-14)
F6S. 438(8A)(8B) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(5); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F7S. 438(10) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(6); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
Commencement Information
I1S. 438 in force at 24.2.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)
I2S. 438 in force at 24.3.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch.