Inspection and complaints
I129Confidentiality, &c.
1
Where Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary, the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors obtain information in the course of exercising a function by virtue of section 27—
a
they may not disclose it without the consent of the Commissioners, and
b
they may not use it for any purpose other than the exercise of the function by virtue of section 27.
2
A report of an inspection by virtue of section 27 may not include information relating to a specified person without his consent.
3
Where the F2Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct or a person acting on F3the Director General’s behalf obtains information from the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs, or from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, in the course of exercising a function by virtue of section 28—
a
the F4Director General or person shall comply with any restriction on disclosure imposed by regulations under that section (and those regulations may, in particular, prohibit disclosure generally or only in specified circumstances or only without the consent of the Commissioners), and
b
the F5Director General or person may not use the information for any purpose other than the exercise of the function by virtue of that section.
4
A person commits an offence if he contravenes a provision of this section.
5
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section of disclosing or using information to prove that he reasonably believed—
a
that the disclosure or use was lawful, or
b
that the information had already and lawfully been made available to the public.
6
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both, or
7
A prosecution for an offence under this section may be instituted in England and Wales F1only by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
8
A prosecution for an offence under this section may be instituted in Northern Ireland only—
a
by the Commissioners, or
b
with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
9
In the application of this section to Scotland or Northern Ireland the reference in subsection (6)(b) to 12 months shall be taken as a reference to six months.
10
In this section a reference to the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors has the same meaning as in section 27.