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AccessNI – Policy on Secure Handling of Disclosure Information

General Principles

As a Regional Governing Body using AccessNI to help assess the suitability of applicants for positions of trust, the Irish Bowling Association complies fully with AccessNI’s Service Level Agreement regarding the correct handling, use, storage retention and disposal of Disclosure Applications and Disclosure information. We also comply fully with obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018 and other relevant legislative requirements with regards to the safe handling, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosure Information.

Consent

As we no longer receive a copy certificate from AccessNI, written consent will be obtained from the Applicant when requesting and retaining a Disclosure certificate. Should it be required, storage of Access NI Disclosure information will be kept securely, in password protected cloud storage with access strictly controlled and limited to only those who are entitled to see it as part of their duties.

Handling

In accordance with section 124 of the Police Act 1997, Disclosure information is only passed to those who are authorised to receive it in the course of their duties. We maintain a record of all those to whom Disclosures or Disclosure information has been revealed. We recognise it is a criminal offence to pass this information to anyone who is not entitled to receive it.

Usage

Disclosure information is only used for the specific purpose for which it was requested and for which the applicant’s full consent has been given.

Retention

Once a recruitment (or other relevant appointment, regulatory or licensing) decision has been taken, we do not keep Disclosure information for any longer than is necessary. We comply with AccessNI’s Service Level Agreement to return the original Disclosure certificate to the applicant once a decision, recruitment or otherwise has been made and will be retained no longer than the agreed period.

Disposal

Once the retention period has elapsed, we will ensure that any Disclosure information is

immediately destroyed by secure means i.e. deletion of all emails, cloud storage folders, shredding, pulping or burning. We will not keep any photocopy or other image of the Disclosure or any copy or representation of the contents of a Disclosure or any other relevant non-conviction information supplied by police. However, despite the above, we may keep a record of the date of issue of a Disclosure, the name of the subject, the type of Disclosure requested, the position for which the Disclosure was requested, the AccessNI unique reference number of the Disclosure Certificate and the details of the recruitment decision.

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