§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures exist for members of the public to require police forces to disclose information held about them. [161028]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Data Protection Act 1998 (which amended the Data Protection Act 1984) governs procedures in respect of the disclosure of information. Members of the public may exercise their right under this Act by applying to the main police station nearest to where they last lived in this country to make a subject access inquiry. When the application form is completed, this should be sent back to the police together with any accompanying documents that are required and a £10 fee for each category of information that they wish to access. The police are then under a legal requirement to respond to their inquiries within 40 days.
Currently, legislation relates to computer-based records only until the new Act takes effect from 24 October 2001 when structured manual files are also included. Applications to make a subject access request can be obtained from all major police stations or by contacting the relevant force's Data Protection Officer