Information
42Wrongful disclosure
1
An offence is committed by a person who contravenes section 41 by disclosing information relating to a person whose identity—
a
is specified in the disclosure, or
b
can be deduced from it.
2
Subsection (1) does not apply to the disclosure of information about internal administrative arrangements of HMRC or the RCPO (whether relating to Commissioners, officers, members of the RCPO or others).
3
It is a defence for a person (P) charged with an offence under this section of disclosing information to prove that P reasonably believed—
a
that the disclosure was lawful, or
b
that the information had already and lawfully been made available to the public.
4
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
b
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
5
The reference in subsection (4)(b) to 12 months shall be treated as a reference to six months—
a
in the application of this section to Northern Ireland;
b
in the application of this section to England and Wales, in relation to an offence under this section committed before the commencement of section 282 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) (imprisonment on summary conviction for certain offences in England and Wales);
c
in the application of this section to Scotland, until the commencement of section 45(1) of the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6) (corresponding provision in Scotland).
6
A prosecution for an offence under this section may be instituted—
a
in England and Wales, only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
b
in Northern Ireland, only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.