57. Police and prosecutors.

The statutory Code of Conduct for police officers requires them to treat information with respect and to access or disclose it only in the proper course of police duties1. The police may make limited, reasonable disclosures of confidential information but only to the extent that such disclosures are necessary, in purpose and degree, to carry out the public duties of the police2. It is within the official duties of the police to give information, including information relating to offences which are spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, 3to Interpol, and therefore it is not an offence on the part of the police to provide this information4.