Personal information charter
How information provided in forms is managed by the criminal courts.
Why information is collected
Criminal courts collect information provided on forms to manage cases according to the Criminal Procedure Rules or other legislation. This information enables the courts to make decisions about:
- preparing the case for a trial or an appeal
- an application or an appeal that you are making
- a response that you are making to an application or an appeal
Sharing information
The information collected will be under the court’s control.
Criminal courts will only share information when the law requires or allows. For example, your forms may be shared with other parties to the case or with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) who use it for statistical reporting and academic research. It is not shared with anyone else.
To find out how parties to cases and members of the public can apply to receive information from court records, read Part 5 of the Criminal Procedure Rules. For more details, see rules 5.7 and 5.8 and the other legislation listed in the accompanying notes.
Other ways information may be shared
Information on a form may be shared publicly if it is referred to:
- in an open courtroom
- when a court explains sentencing decisions
Not all information given in public in criminal cases can be reported by the media. See a list of reporting restrictions in Part 6 of the Criminal Procedure Rules and other legislation listed in the accompanying notes.
Keeping information
All forms are managed in line with sections 5 and 8 of the Public Records Act 1958. Find out how long courts keep records.
Read how HMCTS handles personal information.