§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide a list of the legislation and other powers under which the police claim the authority to vet members of the public; and if he will summarise the reasons why such vetting takes place.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggIn most cases the police do not vet members of the public. The police supply information' about an individual to other organisations which would decide in the light of this information, and any other information in their possession, whether a person was suitable for the post applied for.
The principles governing the disclosure of police information are set out in section 17 of the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters and in Home Office circular 45/1986, copies of which are in the Library.
Information from police records is supplied only where there are important considerations of public interest to justify departure from the general rule of confidentiality. These are, broadly speaking:
- (i) where there is a statutory obligation to provide information;
- (ii) to the courts for the administration of justice;
- (iii) to ensure probity in the administration of law;
- (iv) for the protection of vulnerable members of society; and
- (v) national security.