§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues to police forces in England and Wales about the issuing of information 155W from police records to outside organisations; whether any of this is specific to the records of juveniles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe general position on the disclosure of information from police records is that no information is disclosed to anyone, however responsible, unless there are weighty considerations of public interest which dictate a departure from the rule of confidentiality. Guidance on the disclosure of police information is contained in the consolidated circular to the "Police on Crime and Kindred Matters", a copy of which is in the Library. Paragraphs 1.96; 9.45–49; 17.37; 17.65; and 19.42–46, relate specifically to juveniles.