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Information management

Information management — Authorised Professional Practice

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Summary

This section of the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) outlines the key principles surrounding police information management, emphasizing the need for compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED), which came into effect on 25 May 2018. It details the processes involved in the management of police information, including collection, recording, evaluation, information assurance, sharing, and adherence to data protection laws. The content serves as a crucial resource for officers to understand their responsibilities in handling police information effectively and legally, enhancing public trust and accountability.

Key principles

  • 1Compliance with GDPR and LED
  • 2Management of police information includes collection, evaluation, and retention
  • 3Importance of information assurance and sharing
  • 4Maintaining data protection and privacy standards

Defined terms

GDPR
General Data Protection Regulations
LED
Law Enforcement Directive
data
Information processed for a policing purpose, including personal data
intelligence
Information which has been subject to a process of evaluation

Full guidance

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) took effect from 25 May 2018. Work has been undertaken to reflect these regulations within authorised professional practice (APP). Further information can be found here.(opens an external website in the same tab)

Police information refers to all information obtained, recorded or processed for a policing purpose. It includes information which is processed (known as data, including personal data) and information which has been subject to a process of evaluation (known as intelligence ).

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What is the reason for your answer?

Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice and is updated over time. For the current, official version — including any operational detail not reproduced here — go direct.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.