(1)This section applies to information held by the Secretary of State in connection with the exercise of functions under any of the Immigration Acts.
(2)The information may be supplied to—
(a)a chief officer of police, for use for police purposes;
(b)the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, for use for NCIS purposes;
(c)the Director General of the National Crime Squad, for use for NCS purposes;
(d)the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, or a person providing services to them, for use for customs purposes; or
(e)any specified person, for use for purposes specified in relation to that person.
(3)“Police purposes” means any of the following—
(a)the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences;
(b)safeguarding national security;
(c)such other purposes as may be specified.
(4)“NCIS purposes” means any of the functions of the National Criminal Intelligence Service mentioned in section 2 of the M1Police Act 1997.
(5)“NCS purposes” means any of the functions of the National Crime Squad mentioned in section 48 of that Act.
(6)“Customs purposes” means any of the Commissioners’ functions in relation to—
(a)the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences;
(b)the prevention, detection or investigation of conduct in respect of which penalties which are not criminal penalties are provided for by or under any enactment;
(c)the assessment or determination of penalties which are not criminal penalties;
(d)checking the accuracy of information relating to, or provided for purposes connected with, any matter under the care and management of the Commissioners or any assigned matter (as defined by section 1(1) of the M2Customs and Excise Management Act 1979);
(e)amending or supplementing any such information (where appropriate);
(f)legal or other proceedings relating to anything mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e);
(g)safeguarding national security; and
(h)such other purposes as may be specified.
(7)“Chief officer of police” and “specified” have the same meaning as in section 20.
(8)This section does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this section.