Subject Access

Accessing information held about you by North Wales Police

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives an individual the right to have a copy of any personal data held about them by North Wales Police, unless an exemption applies.

Section 7 of the Act 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 them.

Information released under this legislation allows individuals to satisfy themselves that where information is being processed about them, it is accurate, not excessive and is not being kept longer than necessary.

 

It is limited to information relating to the applicant only and will not give access to information relating to other individuals.

 

It is unlikely therefore, that this method will be an appropriate way to obtain information about others, nor is it likely to be suitable for individuals considering, or taking, legal action against an individual or organisation. In such circumstances the normal legal channels of discovery are generally more appropriate.

 

Any information not relating to the applicant will be edited out where one or more of the following circumstances apply:

• The release of the information could lead to the identification of another individual to whom North Wales Police have a duty of confidence.
• This will often be where the recorded information involves more than one individual, e.g. a crime report identifies both a victim and suspect/offender. The offender will not normally be given personal details of victims and vice versa.
• Information being processed for the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.
  We will not release intelligence about an individual under these provisions if doing so could undermine the fight against crime.
• Paper/manual records being processed, these could include investigation files.
• Whilst the searching of electronic records can normally be completed using automatic search tools, searching for hand written records cannot and North Wales Police will often need to be advised where such information is held before they can accept such a request. Even where such paper records can be located if the cost of reviewing and releasing the information would be likely to exceed £450 then it is outside the right of access granted by Parliament. 

If you wish to know what information (if any) North Wales Police holds about you or you would like confirmation that you do, or do not, have a prosecution/conviction history, you can:

Download the Subject Access Application Form or contact:

Information Standards & Compliance
North Wales Police Headquarters
Glan-y-Don
Abergele Road
Colwyn Bay
LL29 8AW
Tel: (01492) 805125

There is a £10 fee and you must provide copies of two types of identification which, between them, confirm your full name, address, date of birth and signature.

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