What are MG6C, MG6D and MG6E?

MG6C is the non-sensitive unused material schedule, disclosed to the defence. MG6D is the sensitive material schedule (informant identities, surveillance methods, undercover operations), not disclosed to the defence and reviewed by CPS. MG6E is the disclosure officer's report — the officer's assessment of unused material and why it may or may not undermine the prosecution or assist the defence.

What third-party material must an officer consider for disclosure?

Material held by organisations outside the police that may be relevant, including social services records, medical records, school records, local authority records, and probation/prison records. The officer must make reasonable enquiries to identify it and record all attempts made; disclosure cannot be forced from a third party.

What is PII (Public Interest Immunity)?

PII applies to material so sensitive that disclosure would harm the public interest — informant/CHIS identities, surveillance methods and capabilities, undercover officer details, and national security material. The CPS applies to the court ex parte (without the defence present) for a PII ruling, and the judge decides whether disclosure would cause more harm than withholding it.

Disclosure of Unused Material

Your duty to record, retain, review, and reveal material under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 — used and unused material, MG6C/D/E schedules, third-party material, PII and the common disclosure failures that collapse cases.

Unofficial independent resource — always verify with official sources (College of Policing, your force, PFEW).

Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team

Last reviewed: 26 August 2026 · Next review due: 26 February 2027

Reviewed by BlueLineHub Editorial

What is an investigating officer's duty under CPIA disclosure?

The prosecution has a legal duty to share material with the defence under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA). Used material is evidence the prosecution relies upon at trial; unused material is material obtained during the investigation but not used as evidence, which may assist the defence or undermine the prosecution.

Every investigating officer has a duty to record all material obtained during the investigation, retain everything — even negative results — reveal it to the prosecutor via disclosure schedules, and review disclosure throughout the life of the case. The officer does not decide what is or isn't relevant; that is the CPS's job.

All operational references

A reference to the officer's duty to record, retain, reveal and review material under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, the MG6C/D/E disclosure schedules, third-party material and Public Interest Immunity. It is educational reference, not tactical guidance — follow your force policy, training and current law.

What is Disclosure?

The prosecution has a legal duty to share material with the defence. This is governed by the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA).

There are two types of material:

The two categories of material under CPIA.

Material type	Definition
Used material	evidence the prosecution relies upon at trial
Unused material	material obtained during investigation but not used as evidence, which may assist the defence or undermine the prosecution

Officer's Duty

Every investigating officer has a duty to:

Record

all material obtained during the investigation

Retain

everything — even negative results (e.g., CCTV checked but nothing found)

Reveal

all material to the prosecutor via disclosure schedules

Review

disclosure throughout the life of the case

MG Forms (Disclosure Schedules)

Form	Purpose
MG6C	Non-sensitive unused material schedule. Lists all unused material that is not sensitive. Disclosed to defence.
MG6D	Sensitive material schedule. Lists material that would not be in the public interest to disclose (informant identities, surveillance methods, undercover operations). NOT disclosed to defence — reviewed by CPS.
MG6E	Disclosure officer's report. Your assessment of unused material and why it may or may not undermine the prosecution or assist the defence.

Third-Party Material

Material held by organisations outside the police that may be relevant:

Social services records (child protection, adult safeguarding)
Medical records (GP, hospital, mental health)
School records (attendance, safeguarding concerns)
Local authority records (housing, benefits)
Probation/prison records

You must make reasonable enquiries to identify third-party material. You cannot force disclosure but must record all attempts made.

PII (Public Interest Immunity)

Some material is so sensitive that disclosure would harm the public interest:

Informant/CHIS identities
Surveillance methods and capabilities
Undercover officer details
National security material

CPS applies to the court ex parte (without defence present) for a PII ruling. The judge decides whether disclosure would cause more harm than withholding.

Common Disclosure Failures

These failures have caused cases to collapse:

Late disclosure — most common complaint from defence solicitors
Incomplete schedules — missing items from MG6C/D
Lost or destroyed material — CCTV overwritten, notes discarded
Not recording negative enquiries — if you checked CCTV and found nothing, record it
Failing to review after defence case statement
Digital material — phone downloads not properly scheduled

Frequently asked

What are MG6C, MG6D and MG6E?: MG6C is the non-sensitive unused material schedule, disclosed to the defence. MG6D is the sensitive material schedule (informant identities, surveillance methods, undercover operations), not disclosed to the defence and reviewed by CPS. MG6E is the disclosure officer's report — the officer's assessment of unused material and why it may or may not undermine the prosecution or assist the defence.
What third-party material must an officer consider for disclosure?: Material held by organisations outside the police that may be relevant, including social services records, medical records, school records, local authority records, and probation/prison records. The officer must make reasonable enquiries to identify it and record all attempts made; disclosure cannot be forced from a third party.
What is PII (Public Interest Immunity)?: PII applies to material so sensitive that disclosure would harm the public interest — informant/CHIS identities, surveillance methods and capabilities, undercover officer details, and national security material. The CPS applies to the court ex parte (without the defence present) for a PII ruling, and the judge decides whether disclosure would cause more harm than withholding it.