§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What facilities now exist for an individual to be given a certificate that he has no criminal records; and what charge is made by the Criminal Records Bureau for such a certificate. [HL648]
§ Lord Williams of MostynAt present, the only way individuals can find out what is on their own criminal record is to exercise their right of subject access under Section 21 of the Data Protection Act 1984. Each application to the police service costs £10.
A Criminal Records Bureau is to be set up to issue the three types of criminal record certificate set out in Part V of the Police Act 1997. Once established, it will be self-financing through charging for each certificate to be issued as provided for under the 1997 Act. All applicants for certificates will be required to pay a fee which, depending on the level of certificate sought, we estimate will cost between £5 and £10.