PART 4The Health Services Safety Investigations Body

Protection of material held by the HSSIB

I1124Offences of unlawful disclosure

1

A person commits an offence if the person—

a

breaches the prohibition in section 122(1) by knowingly or recklessly disclosing protected material to another person, and

b

knows or suspects that the disclosure is prohibited.

2

An individual who was, but has ceased to be, connected with the HSSIB commits an offence if the individual—

a

breaches the prohibition in section 122(5) by knowingly or recklessly disclosing any information, document, equipment or other thing to another person, and

b

knows or suspects that the disclosure is prohibited.

3

Subsection (4) applies where protected material is disclosed to a person not connected with the HSSIB—

a

in a draft report sent to the person under section 115(1),

b

under paragraph 2, 3 or 4 of Schedule 14 (disclosures for purposes of an investigation, offence or safety risk), or

c

under regulations under section 123(1)(c).

4

The person not connected with the HSSIB to whom protected material is disclosed as specified in subsection (3) commits an offence if the person—

a

knowingly or recklessly discloses the protected material to another person without reasonable excuse, and

b

knows or suspects that it is protected material.

5

A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine.