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This conference focuses on information sharing between the police and health services for prevention, early intervention and care purposes. The event will focus on the new NHS England National Guidance Sharing Information with Police, which was released in May 2025, and include principles of information sharing and understanding when to disclose and when not to.
The conference will include case studies from proactive information sharing, for example in domestic violence cases for early intervention, and also reactive information sharing when an incident has occurred. The day will update delegates on the Home Office consultation ‘Police requests for third party information’ and there will also be an update on working with police on missing persons.
“The public interest is generally best served when health and care organisations co-operate with the police as it is necessary to investigate violent crimes, assess the risk of further attacks, and take steps to protect individuals and the public. Any decisions to disclose confidential patient information must be taken on a case-by-case basis. A clear legal basis must be identified and recorded, and sharing must be in line with professional guidance. There are legal constraints on what information can and should be provided, but this depends on the circumstances. The following will help if you are asked for information by the police.”
Sharing Information with the Police NHS England 20 May 2025
“If you are responsible for responding to the police or making a decision about sharing information, it is important that you are prepared in advance of any request…Decisions about whether to share information with the police may be difficult and need to be thought through carefully. ”
Sharing Information with the Police NHS England 20 May 2025
“There may be times when it is appropriate to seek additional information to help justify disclosure or, where this is unavailable, challenge a request from the police, for example if you are not sure if an individual or society is at risk of serious harm. You should not feel under pressure to provide confidential patient information and you should never give the police an original health and care record to take away.”
Sharing Information with the Police NHS England 20 May 2025
“In an urgent or emergency situation, you have to take decisions rapidly. Often, forward planning helps. In the same way as emergency services plan for various scenarios, you should plan ahead for your organisation and train your staff accordingly. In urgent or emergency situations, when there is less time to consider issues in detail, it can be particularly difficult to make sound judgements about whether to share information.”
ICO 2025
“Police requests for third party material, which can include education, medical or local authority records are sometimes necessary to further an investigation, but are not always dealt with appropriately.”
Police requests for third party material Home Office
This conference will enable you to:
Network with colleagues who are working to improve information sharing between the police and health/social care services
Learn from outstanding practice in effective information sharing
Adhere to the National Guidance on Information Sharing with the Police
Update your knowledge on the victim information request Jan 2026 code of practice
Reflect on national Caldicott developments, the Home Office consultation (Police requests for third party information)
Understand the implications of the new legislation the Data (use and access) and guidance on data sharing in an emergency
Improve the way decisions are made in your service using Caldicott principles
Learn from case studies in Emergency Care, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Mental Health, and Missing Persons
Develop your skills in proactive and reactive information sharing with the police
Understand how you can improve information sharing around domestic violence and safeguarding
Appreciate when a request is reasonable and gain advice on dealing with unsubstantiated police requests
Identify key strategies for supporting people in crisis through information sharing
Ensure you are up to date with the latest legal developments including implications of GDPR in this area
Self assess and reflect on your own practice and police perspectives
Supports CPD professional development and acts as revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 hours training for CPD, subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
