Operational partnerships - DVLA enquiries policy (O13)

1. Security protective marking

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in March 2024 – no amendments to content have been made.

2. What this policy is about

2.1. This policy details the mandatory procedures required for submission by officers and police staff requiring information from the DVLA for their investigations and case files, via the force DVLA liaison officers in the vehicle intelligence unit and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) for driver information for all holders of British driving licences and non-licence holders who have convictions for endorsable traffic offences, plus details of all people who are or have been disqualified from driving.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of policy

3.1. This policy is designed to ensure an effective and corporate consistent approach to the requests and supply of information from the DVLA.

3.2. Kent Police is committed to ensuring that policy and procedure are adhered to when obtaining or supplying information to outside agencies, utilising the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) as it relates to the relevant parts of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or the Law of Enforcement Directive (LED), the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA), Management of Police Information (MOPI) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for sharing.

3.3. Kent Police will, within the parameters of relevant legislation, utilise information held by partnership agencies that can assist with dealing with persons linked to criminality, which would otherwise hinder an investigation, if it was not obtained.

4. Implications of the policy

4.1. Finance/staffing/training/other

4.1.1. A designated single point of contact (SPOC) will deal directly with the DVLA. This is to ensure that there is a clear, transparent and auditable process and that the request is relevant and proportionate to the investigation. The DVLA will not deal with any requests outside of the SPOCs.

4.1.2. SPOC roles are limited to relevant persons within the Vehicle Intelligence Unit (ANPR), Force Control Room, PNC and Process Units. Should a nominated SPOC move department, their name will be removed from the SPOC list and a more relevant person will be nominated.

4.2. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

4.2.1. An EIA has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation. 

5. Consultation

• DIU East Kent
• NPT West Kent
• Human Resources
• Information Management
• Estates
• Health and Safety
• Equality and Diversity
• Legal
• Freedom of Information

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. This policy will be reviewed every two years by the SCD Intel Superintendent, to ensure that the processes are accurate and compliant with legislation and current court procedures. This policy is next due for review in March 2026.

7. Security

7.1 Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy.

8. Retention and disposal of records

8.1 Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy.