OpenLegislation

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 in Scotland

2012 c. 9 · Enacted 1 May 2012 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 15 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 30 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 1 para. 7(1)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 Sch. 3 para. 7(2)
Sch. 1 para. 7(2)words substituted for Sch. 1 para. 7(2)(a)(b)Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 Sch. 3 para. 7(3)
Sch. 1 para. 7(3)(b)words substitutedCounter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 Sch. 2 para. 19
Sch. 1 para. 7AinsertedCounter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 Sch. 2 para. 20
s. 95(A1)insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(5)(a)
Pt. 5 Ch. 4 headingwords omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(2)
s. 92 cross-headingsubstitutedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(3)
s. 94A and cross-headinginsertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(4)
s. 95(4A)insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(5)(b)
s. 99 headingwords insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(6)(a)
s. 99(a)words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(6)(b)
s. 100 headingwords insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(7)(a)
s. 100(1)words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(7)(b)
s. 101words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(8)(a)
s. 101words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 116(8)(b)

An Act to provide for the destruction, retention, use and other regulation of certain evidential material; to impose consent and other requirements in relation to certain processing of biometric information relating to children; to provide for a code of practice about surveillance camera systems and for the appointment and role of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner; to provide for judicial approval in relation to certain authorisations and notices under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; to provide for the repeal or rewriting of powers of entry and associated powers and for codes of practice and other safeguards in relation to such powers; to make provision about vehicles left on land; to amend the maximum detention period for terrorist suspects; to replace certain stop and search powers and to provide for a related code of practice; to make provision about the safeguarding of vulnerable groups and about criminal records including provision for the establishment of the Disclosure and Barring Service and the dissolution of the Independent Safeguarding Authority; to disregard convictions and cautions for certain abolished offences; to make provision about the release and publication of datasets held by public authorities and to make other provision about freedom of information and the Information Commissioner; to make provision about the trafficking of people for exploitation and about stalking; to repeal certain enactments; and for connected purposes.

[1st May 2012]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Regulation of biometric data
  2. Chapter 1: Destruction, retention and use of fingerprints etc.
  3. 1Destruction of fingerprints and DNA profiles
  4. 2Material retained pending investigation or proceedings
  5. 3Persons arrested for or charged with a qualifying offence
  6. 4Persons arrested for or charged with a minor offence
  7. 5Persons convicted of a recordable offence
  8. 6Persons convicted of an offence outside England and Wales
  9. 7Persons under 18 convicted of first minor offence
  10. 8Persons given a penalty notice
  11. 9Material retained for purposes of national security
  12. 10Material given voluntarily
  13. 11Material retained with consent
  14. 12Material obtained for one purpose and used for another
  15. 13Destruction of copies
  16. 14Destruction of samples
  17. 15Destruction of impressions of footwear
  18. 16Use of retained material
  19. 17Exclusions for certain regimes
  20. 18Interpretation and minor amendments of PACE
  21. Amendments of regimes other than PACE
  22. 19Amendments of regimes other than PACE
  23. The Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material
  24. 20Appointment and functions of Commissioner
  25. 21Reports by Commissioner
  26. Other provisions
  27. 22Guidance on making national security determinations
  28. 25Material taken before commencement
  29. 26Requirement to notify and obtain consent before processing biometric information
  30. Part 2: Regulation of surveillance
  31. Code of practice
  32. Procedural requirements
  33. 30Issuing of code
  34. 31Alteration or replacement of code
  35. 32Publication of code
  36. Enforcement and Commissioner
  37. 34Commissioner in relation to code
  38. 35Reports by Commissioner
  39. Interpretation
  40. 36Interpretation: Chapter 1
  41. Chapter 2: Safeguards for certain surveillance under RIPA
  42. 37Judicial approval for obtaining or disclosing communications data Repealed
  43. 38Judicial approval for directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources
  44. Part 3: Protection of property from disproportionate enforcement action
  45. Chapter 1: Powers of entry
  46. Repealing, adding safeguards or rewriting powers of entry
  47. 39Repealing etc. unnecessary or inappropriate powers of entry
  48. 40Adding safeguards to powers of entry
  49. 41Rewriting powers of entry
  50. 42Duty to review certain existing powers of entry
  51. 43Consultation requirements before modifying powers of entry
  52. 44Procedural and supplementary provisions
  53. 45Devolution: Scotland and Northern Ireland
  54. 46Sections 39 to 46: interpretation
  55. Codes of practice in relation to powers of entry
  56. 47Code of practice in relation to non-devolved powers of entry
  57. 48Issuing of code
  58. 49Alteration or replacement of code
  59. 50Publication of code
  60. 51Effect of code
  61. 52Sections 47 to 51: interpretation
  62. Offence of immobilising etc. vehicles
  63. 54Offence of immobilising etc. vehicles
  64. Alternative remedies in relation to vehicles left on land
  65. 55Extension of powers to remove vehicles from land
  66. 56Recovery of unpaid parking charges
  67. Part 4: Counter-terrorism powers
  68. Pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects
  69. 57Maximum detention period of 14 days
  70. 58Emergency power for temporary extension and review of extensions
  71. Stop and search powers: general
  72. 59Repeal of existing stop and search powers
  73. 60Replacement powers to stop and search persons and vehicles
  74. 61Replacement powers to stop and search in specified locations
  75. 62Code of practice
  76. 63Stop and search powers in relation to Northern Ireland
  77. Part 5: Safeguarding vulnerable groups, criminal records etc.
  78. 64Restriction of scope of regulated activities: children
  79. 65Restriction of definition of vulnerable adults
  80. 66Restriction of scope of regulated activities: vulnerable adults
  81. 67Alteration of test for barring decisions
  82. 68Abolition of controlled activity
  83. 69Abolition of monitoring
  84. 70Information for purposes of making barring decisions
  85. 71Review of barring decisions
  86. 72Information about barring decisions
  87. 73Duty to check whether person barred Not yet in force
  88. 74Restrictions on duplication with Scottish and Northern Ireland barred lists Not yet in force
  89. 75Professional bodies
  90. 76Supervisory authorities
  91. 77Minor amendments
  92. 78Corresponding amendments in relation to Northern Ireland
  93. Chapter 2: Criminal records
  94. 79Restriction on information provided to certain persons
  95. 80Minimum age for applicants for certificates or to be registered
  96. 81Additional grounds for refusing an application to be registered
  97. 82Enhanced criminal record certificates: additional safeguards
  98. 83Up-dating certificates
  99. 84Criminal conviction certificates: conditional cautions
  100. Other
  101. 86Out of date references to certificates of criminal records
  102. Chapter 3: The Disclosure and Barring Service
  103. 88Transfer of functions to DBS and dissolution of ISA
  104. Supplementary
  105. 91Tax in connection with transfer schemes
  106. 93Applications to the Secretary of State
  107. Effect of disregard
  108. 96Effect of disregard for disclosure and other purposes
  109. 97Saving for Royal pardons etc.
  110. 98Section 96: supplementary
  111. 99Appeal against refusal to disregard convictions or cautions
  112. 100Advisers
  113. General
  114. 101BApplications to the Department of Justice
  115. 101CProcedure for decisions by the Department of Justice
  116. Effect of disregard
  117. 101DEffect of disregard on police and other records
  118. 101EEffect of disregard for disclosure and other purposes
  119. 101FSaving for Royal pardons etc
  120. 101GSection 101E: supplementary
  121. Appeals and other supplementary provision
  122. Part 6: Freedom of information and data protection
  123. Publication of certain datasets
  124. 102Release and publication of datasets held by public authorities
  125. Other amendments relating to freedom of information
  126. 103Meaning of “publicly-owned company”
  127. 104Extension of certain provisions to Northern Ireland bodies
  128. The Information Commissioner
  129. 105Appointment and tenure of Information Commissioner
  130. 106Alteration of role of Secretary of State in relation to guidance powers
  131. 107Removal of Secretary of State consent for fee-charging powers etc.
  132. 108Removal of Secretary of State approval for staff numbers, terms etc.
  133. Part 7: Miscellaneous and general
  134. 111Offences in relation to stalking
  135. 112Power of entry in relation to stalking
  136. 113Repeal of provisions for conducting certain fraud cases without jury
  137. 114Removal of restrictions on times for marriage or civil partnership
  138. General
  139. 115Consequential amendments, repeals and revocations
  140. 116Transitional, transitory or saving provision
  141. 117Financial provisions
  142. 118Channel Islands and Isle of Man
  143. 119Extent
  144. 120Commencement
  145. 121Short title
  146. Schedule 1: Amendments of regimes other than PACE
  147. Part 1: Material subject to the Terrorism Act 2000
  148. 1Paragraph 1
  149. Part 3: Material subject to section 18 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008
  150. 3Paragraph 3
  151. 4Paragraph 4
  152. Part 4: Material subject to the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011
  153. 5Paragraph 5
  154. Part 5: Material subject to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
  155. 6Paragraph 6
  156. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  157. Part 7: Corresponding Northern Ireland provision for excepted or reserved matters etc.
  158. 8Paragraph 8
  159. Schedule 2: Repeals etc. of powers of entry
  160. Part 1: Water and Environment
  161. 1Paragraph 1
  162. Merchant Shipping Act 1995
  163. 2Paragraph 2
  164. 3Paragraph 3
  165. Part 2: Agriculture
  166. 4Paragraph 4
  167. 5Paragraph 5
  168. 6Paragraph 6
  169. 7Paragraph 7
  170. Older Cattle (Disposal) (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3522)
  171. 8Paragraph 8
  172. Salmonella in Turkey Flocks and Slaughter Pigs (Survey Powers) (England) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2821)
  173. 9Paragraph 9
  174. Part 3: Miscellaneous
  175. Distribution of German Enemy Property (No 1) Order 1950 (S.I. 1950/1642)
  176. 10Paragraph 10
  177. 11Paragraph 11
  178. 12Paragraph 12
  179. Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1629)
  180. 13Paragraph 13
  181. Cross-border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations 2008 (2008/1660)
  182. 14Paragraph 14
  183. Payment Services Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/209)
  184. 15Paragraph 15
  185. Code of practice Not yet in force
  186. Issuing of code Not yet in force
  187. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  188. Alteration or replacement of code Not yet in force
  189. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  190. Publication of code Not yet in force
  191. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  192. Effect of code Not yet in force
  193. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  194. Interpretation Not yet in force
  195. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  196. Introductory
  197. 1Paragraph 1
  198. 2Paragraph 2
  199. 3Paragraph 3
  200. Right to claim unpaid parking charges from keeper of vehicle
  201. 4Paragraph 4
  202. Conditions that must be met for purposes of paragraph 4
  203. 5Paragraph 5
  204. 6Paragraph 6
  205. 7Paragraph 7
  206. 8Paragraph 8
  207. 9Paragraph 9
  208. 10Paragraph 10
  209. 11Paragraph 11
  210. 12Paragraph 12
  211. Hire vehicles
  212. 13Paragraph 13
  213. 14Paragraph 14
  214. Application to Crown vehicles etc
  215. 15Paragraph 15
  216. Power to amend Schedule
  217. 16Paragraph 16
  218. Parliamentary procedure
  219. 17Paragraph 17
  220. Schedule 5: Replacement powers to stop and search: supplementary provisions
  221. Paragraph
  222. 1Paragraph 1
  223. 2Paragraph 2
  224. 3Paragraph 3
  225. Restriction of scope of regulated activities: children
  226. 1Paragraph 1
  227. Restriction of definition of vulnerable adults
  228. 2Paragraph 2
  229. Restriction of scope of regulated activities: vulnerable adults
  230. 3Paragraph 3
  231. Alteration of test for barring decisions
  232. 4Paragraph 4
  233. Abolition of controlled activity
  234. 5Paragraph 5
  235. Abolition of monitoring
  236. 6Paragraph 6
  237. Information for purposes of making barring decisions
  238. 7Paragraph 7
  239. Review of barring decisions
  240. 8Paragraph 8
  241. Information about barring decisions
  242. 9Paragraph 9
  243. Duty to check whether person barred Not yet in force
  244. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
  245. Restrictions on duplication with barred lists in England and Wales and Scotland Not yet in force
  246. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
  247. Professional bodies
  248. 12Paragraph 12
  249. Supervisory authorities
  250. 13Paragraph 13
  251. Minor amendments
  252. 14Paragraph 14
  253. Schedule 8: Disclosure and Barring Service
  254. 1Paragraph 1
  255. 2Paragraph 2
  256. 3Paragraph 3
  257. 4Paragraph 4
  258. Remuneration, pensions etc of staff
  259. 5Paragraph 5
  260. 6Paragraph 6
  261. 7Paragraph 7
  262. 8Paragraph 8
  263. 9Paragraph 9
  264. 10Paragraph 10
  265. 11Paragraph 11
  266. 12Paragraph 12
  267. 13Paragraph 13
  268. 14Paragraph 14
  269. 15Paragraph 15
  270. 16Paragraph 16
  271. 17Paragraph 17
  272. 18Paragraph 18
  273. 19Paragraph 19
  274. 20Paragraph 20
  275. Schedule 9: Consequential amendments
  276. Part 1: Destruction, retention and use of fingerprints etc.
  277. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
  278. 1Paragraph 1
  279. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975
  280. 2Paragraph 2
  281. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  282. 3Paragraph 3
  283. Crime and Security Act 2010
  284. 4Paragraph 4
  285. Part 2: The Surveillance Camera Commissioner
  286. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
  287. 5Paragraph 5
  288. Part 3: Safeguards for certain surveillance under RIPA
  289. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
  290. 6Paragraph 6
  291. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  292. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  293. 9Paragraph 9
  294. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  295. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  296. 12Paragraph 12
  297. 13Paragraph 13
  298. 14Paragraph 14
  299. 15Paragraph 15
  300. 16Paragraph 16
  301. 17Paragraph 17
  302. Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
  303. 18Paragraph 18
  304. Airports Act 1986
  305. 19Paragraph 19
  306. Private Security Industry Act 2001
  307. 20Paragraph 20
  308. Part 5: Counter-terrorism powers
  309. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  310. 21Paragraph 21
  311. Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))
  312. 22Paragraph 22
  313. Terrorism Act 2000
  314. 23Paragraph 23
  315. 24Paragraph 24
  316. 25Paragraph 25
  317. 26Paragraph 26
  318. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
  319. 27Paragraph 27
  320. Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
  321. 28Paragraph 28
  322. 29Paragraph 29
  323. Police Reform Act 2002
  324. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  325. Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003
  326. 31Paragraph 31
  327. Terrorism Act 2006
  328. 32Paragraph 32
  329. Counter-Terrorism Act 2008
  330. 33Paragraph 33
  331. Terrorism Act 2000 (Remedial) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/631)
  332. 34Paragraph 34
  333. Police Act 1997
  334. 36Paragraph 36
  335. 37Paragraph 37
  336. 43Paragraph 43
  337. 44Paragraph 44
  338. 45Paragraph 45
  339. 46Paragraph 46
  340. 47Paragraph 47
  341. 48Paragraph 48
  342. 49Paragraph 49
  343. 50Paragraph 50
  344. 51Paragraph 51
  345. 52Paragraph 52
  346. 53Paragraph 53
  347. 54Paragraph 54
  348. 55Paragraph 55
  349. 56Paragraph 56
  350. 57Paragraph 57
  351. 58Paragraph 58
  352. 59Paragraph 59
  353. 60Paragraph 60
  354. 61Paragraph 61
  355. 62Paragraph 62
  356. 63Paragraph 63
  357. 64Paragraph 64
  358. 65Paragraph 65
  359. 66Paragraph 66
  360. 67Paragraph 67
  361. 68Paragraph 68
  362. 69Paragraph 69
  363. 70Paragraph 70
  364. 71Paragraph 71
  365. 72Paragraph 72
  366. 73Paragraph 73
  367. 74Paragraph 74
  368. 75Paragraph 75
  369. 76Paragraph 76
  370. 77Paragraph 77
  371. 78Paragraph 78
  372. 79Paragraph 79
  373. 80Paragraph 80
  374. 81Paragraph 81
  375. 82Paragraph 82
  376. 83Paragraph 83
  377. 84Paragraph 84
  378. 85Paragraph 85
  379. 86Paragraph 86
  380. 87Paragraph 87
  381. 88Paragraph 88
  382. 89Paragraph 89
  383. 90Paragraph 90
  384. 91Paragraph 91
  385. 92Paragraph 92
  386. 93Paragraph 93
  387. 94Paragraph 94
  388. 95Paragraph 95
  389. 96Paragraph 96
  390. 97Paragraph 97
  391. 98Paragraph 98
  392. 99Paragraph 99
  393. 100Paragraph 100
  394. 101Paragraph 101
  395. 102Paragraph 102
  396. 103Paragraph 103
  397. Police Act 1997
  398. 104Paragraph 104
  399. 105Paragraph 105
  400. 106Paragraph 106
  401. 107Paragraph 107
  402. 108Paragraph 108
  403. 109Paragraph 109
  404. 112Paragraph 112
  405. 113Paragraph 113
  406. 114Paragraph 114 Not yet in force
  407. 115Paragraph 115
  408. 116Paragraph 116
  409. 117Paragraph 117
  410. 118Paragraph 118
  411. Gambling Act 2005
  412. 119Paragraph 119
  413. National Health Service Act 2006
  414. 120Paragraph 120
  415. 121Paragraph 121
  416. 122Paragraph 122
  417. 123Paragraph 123
  418. National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006
  419. 124Paragraph 124
  420. 125Paragraph 125
  421. 126Paragraph 126
  422. 127Paragraph 127
  423. 128Paragraph 128
  424. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  425. 129Paragraph 129
  426. Part 8: The Disclosure and Barring Service
  427. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967
  428. 130Paragraph 130
  429. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
  430. 131Paragraph 131
  431. Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975
  432. 132Paragraph 132
  433. Freedom of Information Act 2000
  434. 133Paragraph 133
  435. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
  436. 134Paragraph 134
  437. Police Act 1997
  438. 135Paragraph 135
  439. Children and Young Persons Act 1933
  440. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  441. 137Paragraph 137
  442. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
  443. Criminal Justice Act 2003
  444. 139Paragraph 139
  445. Sexual Offences Act 2003
  446. Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004
  447. Serious Crime Act 2007
  448. 142Paragraph 142
  449. Part 11: Stalking
  450. 143Paragraph 143
  451. 144Paragraph 144
  452. Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
  453. 145Paragraph 145
  454. Sexual Offences Act 2003
  455. 146Paragraph 146
  456. 147Paragraph 147
  457. Part 12: Repeal of provisions for conducting certain fraud cases without jury
  458. Criminal Justice Act 2003
  459. 148Paragraph 148
  460. Schedule 10: Repeals and revocations
  461. 1Destruction, retention and use of fingerprints etc.
  462. 2Powers of entry
  463. 4Counter-terrorism powers
  464. 7Freedom of information
  465. 8The Information Commissioner
  466. 10Repeal of provisions for conducting certain fraud cases without jury