The Subject Access provisions of the Data Protection Act gives an individual the right to have a copy of any personal data held about them, subject to certain exemptions.
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) South Wales Police holds about you, you must complete a Subject Access form. Payment of a £10.00 fee, proof of identification and sufficient information to allow us to locate your personal data must accompany a completed application form.
Application forms are available from main police stations or by writing to:
Data Protection Officer
South Wales Police Headquarters
Cowbridge Road
Bridgend
CF31 3SU
Telephone number: 01656 869356
Alternatively, you can download an application form from the South Wales Police website
Completed application forms together with the £10 fee and appropriate identification (please see form for details), can be returned by post or handed into any police station in the South Wales Police area. We are unable to accept completed forms by email or fax.
Please note that once we have received your completed application, the process to provide you with information can take up to 40 days.
Individuals requiring Police Certificates for the purposes of application for emigration, visa, work permits or residency in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America should download the application form for an ACPO Police Certificate from the ACPO Website. Please note that this Certificate is processed entirely by the ACPO Criminal Records Office (ACRO). All submissions and enquiries relating to this process should be directed to ACRO, who can be contacted through the following routes:
Please do not return this application form to South Wales Police.
The South Wales Police does not provide PNC disclosures for employment vetting services. If you require a disclosure for employment purposes, please contact Disclosure Scotland on: 0870 6096006 or via their website Disclosure Scotland
The current procedure whereby companies require individuals to exercise their rights under Subject Access provisions at Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998, as a form of vetting, has been considered to be unlawful for may years and is against the sprit of the legislation. When Section 56 is implemented, it will become a criminal offence for the employer to ask individuals , as a condition of employment, to go through this process.
If you are going to work as a paid employee or as a volunteer for an organisation and your work as a paid employee or as a volunteer for an organisation and your work will bring you into contact with children or vulnerable adults and have been asked to apply for a CRB check then you must access the CRB Website and follow their procedure.