Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

438 Disclosure of information by [F1 certain [F2 authorities]] U.K.

(1) Information obtained by or on behalf of [F3 a relevant authority] in connection with the exercise of any of [F4 the authority's] functions [F5 under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8] may be disclosed by [F6 the authority] 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 [F7 authority's] functions [F8 under, 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 [F9 or 8] ;

(f) the exercise by a customs officer [F10 , an accredited financial investigator] [F11 , a constable or an SFO officer] of his functions under Chapter 3 [F12 , 3A or 3B] of Part 5;

[F13 (fa) the exercise of any functions of [F14 the National Crime Agency] [F15 or another [F16 relevant authority]] 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.

F17 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) If [F18 a relevant authority] makes a disclosure of information for a purpose specified in subsection (1) [F19 the authority] may make any further disclosure of the information by the person to whom [F19 the authority] discloses it subject to such conditions as [F19 the authority] 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 [F20 the data protection legislation];

(b) which is prohibited by [F21 any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016].

[F22 (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.

[F23 (10) In this section [F24 “relevant authority”] has the same meaning as in section 435.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words 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)

F2 Word in s. 438 heading substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(2) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F3 Words in s. 438(1) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(a)(i) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F4 Words in s. 438(1) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(a)(ii) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F5 Words 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)

F6 Words in s. 438(1) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(a)(iii) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F7 Word in s. 438(1)(c) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(b) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F8 Words 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)

F9 Words in s. 438(1)(e) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(c) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F10 Words in s. 438(1)(f) inserted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 11 para. 14; S.I. 2008/755, art. 17(1)(f)

F11 Words in s. 438(1)(f) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(d)(i) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F12 Words in s. 438(1)(f) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(d)(ii) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F13 S. 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)

F14 Words in s. 438(1)(fa) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 146; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

F15 Words in s. 438(1)(fa) substituted (27.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/834), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 29

F16 Words in s. 438(1)(fa) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(e) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F17 S. 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)

F18 Words in s. 438(5) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(4)(a) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F19 Words in s. 438(5) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(4)(b) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

F20 Words in s. 438(8)(a) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 82 (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)

F21 Words in s. 438(8)(b) substituted (27.6.2018) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), s. 272(1), Sch. 10 para. 12(3) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2018/652, reg. 12(g)(iii)

F22 S. 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)

F23 S. 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)

F24 Words in s. 438(10) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(5) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 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)

I2 S. 438 in force at 24.3.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch.