{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997/section-118",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997/section-118.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1997/50",
  "legislation_title": "Police Act 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997",
  "path": "section/118",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "118",
  "heading": "Evidence of identity.",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State DBS may refuse to issue a certificate under this Part, or to consider an application as mentioned in section 116A(4)(a) or (5)(a) or an application under section 117 , 117A or 120, unless the application is supported by such evidence of identity as he it may require.\n(2) In particular, the Secretary of State DBS may refuse to issue a certificate or consider an application unless the applicant—\n(a) has his fingerprints taken at such place and in such manner as may be prescribed, and\n(b) pays the prescribed fee to such person as may be prescribed.\n(2A) For the purpose of verifying evidence of identity supplied in pursuance of subsection (1) the Secretary of State DBS may obtain such information as he it thinks is appropriate from data held—\n(a) by the United Kingdom Passport Agency;\n(b) by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency;\n(c) by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland;\n(d) by the Secretary of State in connection with keeping records of national insurance numbers;\n(e) by such other persons or for such purposes as is prescribed.\n(3) Regulations dealing with the taking of fingerprints may make provision requiring their destruction in specified circumstances and by specified persons.\n(3A) DBS by notice given in writing may require a person who has a certificate which is subject to up-date arrangements under section 116A to attend at a place and time specified in the notice to provide fingerprints for the sole purpose of enabling DBS to verify whether information in the possession of DBS that DBS considers may be relevant to the person's certificate does relate to that person.\n(3B) If a person fails to comply with a requirement imposed under subsection (3A), DBS by notice given in writing may inform that person that, from a date specified in the notice, the person's certificate is to cease to be subject to up-date arrangements.\n(4) Regulations prescribing a fee for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) shall make provision for a refund in cases of an application under section 117 or 117A where a new certificate is issued.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Pt. 5 repealed (S.) (1.4.2025) by Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 13), s. 97, sch. 5 para. 3 (with s. 96); S.S.I. 2025/27, reg. 3(1)(2), sch. (with regs. 4, 5, 7-10)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 118(1) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(j) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 118(1) inserted (E.W.) (17.6.2013) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 109(2)(a) (with s. 97); S.I. 2013/1180, art. 2(e)(ii); and inserted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(2)(a); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Word in s. 118(1) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after S.I. 2012/2157 comes into force) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 109(2)(b) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(vii); and inserted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(2)(b); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 118(1) inserted (1.7.2005 for S., 1.7.2005 for E.W., 1.4.2008 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 164(2), 178(4)(d)(8); S.S.I. 2005/358, art. 2(c); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(3)(a); S.I. 2008/697, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 118(1) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 41(a) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 118(2) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(j) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 118(2A) inserted (1.7.2005 for S., 1.7.2005 for E.W., 1.4.2008 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 164(3), 178(4)(d)(8); S.S.I. 2005/358, art. 2(c); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(3)(a); S.I. 2008/697, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 118(2A) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(j) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Word in s. 118(2A) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 41(b) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 118(3A)(3B) inserted (E.W.) (17.6.2013) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 109(3) (with s. 97); S.I. 2013/1180, art. 2(e)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Word in s. 118(3A)(3B) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(j) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 118(4) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after S.I. 2012/2157 comes into force) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 109(4) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(vii); and inserted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 7(4); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 118 in force at 1.3.2002 for E.W. by S.I. 2002/413, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 118 in force at 1.4.2008 for N.I. by S.I. 2008/692, art. 2(j)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2009/26",
      "affecting_title": "Policing and Crime Act 2009"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/50/section/118",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:24:18.907526+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}