Provision by Provision Commentary Offences relating to Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures Section 44: Unlawful request for and use of a Level 2 disclosure
87.Section 44(1) makes it an offence for a person to request, or otherwise seek sight of a Level 2 disclosure for a purpose other than a permitted purpose. “Permitted purpose” for this offence is defined as a purpose for which the usual rules under section 4(2)(a) or (b) of the 1974 Act (about not having to self-disclose spent convictions) have been disapplied by virtue of an order made under section 4(4) that Act including, in the case of a Level 2 disclosure for a PVG scheme member, for the purpose of considering the suitability of the person for regulated roles (matching the purpose referred to in section 17(1)(b)). This is to prevent anyone from attempting to see a disclosure record other than to check an individual’s suitability for the various offices or employment for which the normal protections against self-disclosure of spent convictions (see paragraph 29 of these notes) are disapplied. Section 44(3) separately makes it an offence to use a Level 2 disclosure for a purpose other than a permitted purpose. In relation to this offence, the only permitted purpose for use is the same purpose as the purpose for which the disclosure was applied for. Subsection (5) provides the penalties for an offence committed under this section.