(1)Information obtained by or on behalf of [F3a relevant authority] in connection with the exercise of any of [F4the authority's] functions [F5under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8] may be disclosed by [F6the authority] if the disclosure is for the purposes of any of the following—
(a)any criminal investigation which is being or may be carried out, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;
(b)any criminal proceedings which have been or may be started, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;
(c)the exercise of the [F7authority's] functions [F8under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8];
(d)the exercise by the prosecutor of functions under Parts 2, 3 and 4;
(e)the exercise by the Scottish Ministers of their functions under Part 5 [F9or 8];
(f)the exercise by a customs officer [F10, an accredited financial investigator] [F11, a constable or an SFO officer] of his functions under Chapter 3 [F12, 3A [F13or 3B] [F13, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E or 3F]] of Part 5;
[F14(fa)the exercise of any functions of [F15the National Crime Agency] [F16or another [F17relevant authority]] under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8;]
(g)safeguarding national security;
(h)investigations or proceedings outside the United Kingdom which have led or may lead to the making of an external order within the meaning of section 447;
(i)the exercise of a designated function.
F18(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F18(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F18(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5)If [F19a relevant authority] makes a disclosure of information for a purpose specified in subsection (1) [F20the authority] may make any further disclosure of the information by the person to whom [F20the authority] discloses it subject to such conditions as [F20the authority] thinks fit.
(6)Such a person must not further disclose the information in contravention of the conditions.
(7)A disclosure under this section is not to be taken to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
(8)But nothing in this section authorises the making of a disclosure—
(a)which contravenes [F21the data protection legislation];
(b)which is prohibited by [F22any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016].
[F23(8A)This section does not affect a power to disclose which exists apart from this section.
(8B)This section applies to information obtained before the coming into force of subsection (10) as well as to information obtained after the coming into force of that subsection.]
(9)A designated function is a function which the Secretary of State thinks is a function of a public nature and which he designates by order.
[F24(10)In this section [F25“relevant authority”] has the same meaning as in section 435.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 438 heading substituted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(2); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F2Word in s. 438 heading substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(2) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F3Words in s. 438(1) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(a)(i) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F4Words in s. 438(1) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(a)(ii) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F5Words in s. 438(1) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(a); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F6Words in s. 438(1) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(a)(iii) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F7Word in s. 438(1)(c) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(b) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F8Words in s. 438(1)(c) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(b); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F9Words in s. 438(1)(e) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(c) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F10Words in s. 438(1)(f) inserted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 11 para. 14; S.I. 2008/755, art. 17(1)(f)
F11Words in s. 438(1)(f) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(d)(i) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F12Words in s. 438(1)(f) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(d)(ii) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F13Words in s. 438(1)(f) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 9 para. 9
F14S. 438(1)(fa) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(c); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F15Words in s. 438(1)(fa) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 146; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)
F16Words in s. 438(1)(fa) substituted (27.3.2014) by The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/834), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 29
F17Words in s. 438(1)(fa) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(3)(e) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F18S. 438(2)-(4) repealed (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(4), Sch. 14; S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a)(d) (with arts. 3-14)
F19Words in s. 438(5) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(4)(a) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F20Words in s. 438(5) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(4)(b) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
F21Words in s. 438(8)(a) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 82 (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)
F22Words in s. 438(8)(b) substituted (27.6.2018) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), s. 272(1), Sch. 10 para. 12(3) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2018/652, reg. 12(g)(iii)
F23S. 438(8A)(8B) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(5); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F24S. 438(10) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 134(6); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)
F25Words in s. 438(10) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 80(5) (with Sch. 5 para. 80(6)); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)
Commencement Information
I1S. 438 in force at 24.2.2003 for specified purposes by S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)
I2S. 438 in force at 24.3.2003 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch.