At present, the UK authorities do not provide police clearance certificates. Applicants can however apply for a subject access reply under the Subject Access Provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. This is accepted by most foreign authorities in the absence of any other facility.

Applications for a subject access should be made by the applicant to the local police station that would have covered your last residential address in the UK.

Applications can be made in person or by post. A completed application form, an original copy of government approved photo ID (for example a passport or driving license) and a cheque or postal order for £10 sterling (most police stations will not accept other currencies) are required.

By UK law, the subject access application must be processed and the results issued within 40 days of receiving the application.

Find your last local police authority here: www.apa.police.uk

Further information about how to contact local UK police forces can be obtained from: www.police.uk

The Metropolitan Police can provide application forms online (Form 3019A and Form 3019B), www.met.police.uk, but applications must be submitted by post or in person.

Disclosure Scotland offers this service on-line, you should also check with your last police force.

You can obtain more information from the National Identification Bureau:

National Identification Service
Subject Access Office
Room 350
New Scotland Yard
Broadway
London
SW1H 0BG
Tel: + 44 (0)207 230 2958
Fax: + 44 (0) 207 230 2688
Website: www.police-information.co.uk