{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997/section-122",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997/section-122.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1997/50",
  "legislation_title": "Police Act 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1997",
  "path": "section/122",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "122",
  "heading": "Code of practice.",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State shall publish, and may from time to time revise, a code of practice in connection with the use of information provided to , or the discharge of any function by, registered persons under this Part.\n(1A) The reference in subsection (1) to the use of information provided to registered persons under this Part includes a reference to the use of information provided in accordance with section 116A(1) to relevant persons (within the meaning of that section) who are not registered persons under this Part.\n(2) The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament the code of practice under this section as soon as practicable after publication and after revision.\n(3) Subsection (3A) applies if the Secretary of State DBS thinks that the registered person who countersigned person who acted as the registered person in relation to an application for a certificate under section 113A or 113B—\n(a) has failed to comply with the code of practice under this section, or\n(b) countersigned acted as the registered person at the request of a body which, or individual who, has failed to comply with the code of practice.\n(3A) The Secretary of State DBS may—\n(a) refuse to issue the certificate;\n(b) suspend the registration of the person;\n(c) cancel the registration of the person.\n(3B) Section 120AB applies if the Secretary of State DBS proposes to suspend or cancel a person's registration under subsection (3A) above as it applies if he it proposes to suspend or cancel a person's registration by virtue of section 120AA.",
  "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      "text": "Pt. 5 repealed (S.) (1.4.2025) by Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 13), s. 97, sch. 5 para. 3 (with s. 96); S.S.I. 2025/27, reg. 3(1)(2), sch.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. 122(1) inserted (E.W.N.I.) (20.1.2009) by Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47), ss. 29(2), 65 (with ss. 51, 57(3), 60(4), 64(5)); S.I. 2009/39, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 122(1A) inserted (E.W.) (17.6.2013) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 113 (with s. 97); S.I. 2013/1180, art. 2(e)(iii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 122(3) substituted (E.W.N.I.) (20.1.2009) by Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47), ss. 29(3), 65 (with ss. 51, 57(3), 60(4), 64(5)); S.I. 2009/39, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 122(3) 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(t) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 122(3) substituted (E.W.) (2.3.2009) by The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Electronic Communications) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/203), arts. 1(1), 10(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 122(3)(b) substituted (E.W.) (2.3.2009) by The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Electronic Communications) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/203), arts. 1(1), 10(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 122(3A)(3B) inserted (E.W.N.I.) (20.1.2009) by Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47), ss. 29(4), 65 (with ss. 51, 57(3), 60(4), 64(5)); S.I. 2009/39, art. 2(1)(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 122(3A) 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(t) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 122(3A)(a) repealed (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 15(4), Sch. 9 Pt. 3; S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(v)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 122(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(t) (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Word in s. 122(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), 46 (with Pt. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 122(1)(2) in force at 19.3.2001 for E.W. by S.I. 2001/1097, art. 2(1); s. 122(3) in force at 1.3.2002 for E.W. by S.I. 2002/413, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 122 in force at 3.12.2007 for N.I. by S.I. 2007/3342, art. 2(f)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2012/9",
      "affecting_title": "Protection of Freedoms Act 2012"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/50/section/122",
    "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."
}