Data Protection

The Data Protection Act 1998 (www.opsi.gov.uk ) was brought into force on 1 March 2000. The Act gives individuals certain rights in relation to accessing personal data. It also ensures that those who record and use personal information must be open about how the information is used and must follow the eight principles of  "good information handling":

• Processed fairly and lawfully
• Processed for limited purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate and up-to-date
• Not kept longer than necessary
• Processed in accordance with the data subject's rights
• Secure
• Not transferred to countries outside European Economic Area (EEA) without adequate protection.

Subject Access

The Subject Access provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 give individuals the right to have a copy of any personal data held on them.

Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 states that a "data subject" (the person about whom the personal data refers) is entitled, upon written request, to be informed whether or not personal data is held or processed about him/her.

Should you wish to know what information (if any) the police hold about you or you would like confirmation that you do or do not have a prosecution/conviction history, you can apply to the:

Force Disclosure Unit
Data Protection Section
Strathclyde Police
Force Headquarters
173 Pitt Street
Glasgow
G2 4JS

Tel: 0141 435 1206/1207
Fax: 0141 435 1218

Please note that, once we have received your completed application, the process to provide you with information can take up to 40 days.

The application cannot be dealt with by e-mail. However, a subject access form can be downloaded and the completed form sent by post to the Force.

If you are applying by electronic means, your application will not be processed until identification documentation and the £10 fee have been received by post or personal delivery.