The Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act gives people the right to access
information held by public authorities including Dorset
Police. The purpose of the Act is to make bodies such as
Dorset Police more accountable to those that fund them and to make
public authorities more transparent to members of the general
public.
Under FOI, there is an obligation for
publicly-funded bodies to consider requests for information and to
provide a response under the terms of the legislation. There is a
presumption of disclosure unless the authority can demonstrate harm
in release. The Act also requires that Dorset
Police adopt, operate and maintain a publication scheme. The
purpose of the scheme is to highlight the types of information that
Dorset Police will publish through our website or make available
immediately upon receiving a request for it .
Follow this link for more information on the Freedom
of Information Act and how to make a request for information
>
Follow this link to access our publication
scheme >
The Data Protection Act
The Subject Access provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998
gives an individual 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 them.
Should you wish to know what information (if any) the Dorset
Police holds about you, or you would like confirmation that you do,
or do not have a prosecution/conviction history; you must complete
a Subject Access form - SA1. If you require personal data held
about you on Dorset Police systems, in addition to form SA1, you
will need to complete form SA1/1.
Individuals requiring Police Certificates for the purposes of
Visa applications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South
Africa and the United States of America should use the
Association of Criminal Records Office. All submissions and
enquiries relating to this process should be directed to Association of
Chief Police Officers Criminal Records
Office >
Disclosure of information held by the police for
employment vetting processes – For information
regarding the disclosure of information by the police for
employment vetting processes, please visit the ACPO website
http://www.acpo.police.uk/acro/disclosure.asp >
Follow this link for the application forms to access
your personal data and more information about the Data Protection
Act 1998. >