IDG30460 | Confidentiality when dealing with the customer: disclosure to agents, representatives and third parties: missing persons

The department’s strict duty of confidentiality will generally prevent you from disclosing the whereabouts of missing persons to third parties, however if you are in doubt please seek advice from your Security & Information Business Partner (SIBP) .

This includes forwarding letters, including from debt collection agencies, solicitors, the police or any other organisation. If a person contacts you asking you to forward a letter you will likely need to contact the sender and inform them that you cannot forward the letter.

One particular situation where this commonly occurs is requests from the Salvation Army’s Family Tracing Service; if you are contacted by them please seek advice from your SIBP.

The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 may permit HMRC to supply certain information to police and law enforcement authorities for the purpose of criminal investigations and proceedings, see IDG50100.