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Contents

Legislation
Data Protection Act 2018

CHAPTER 2 Principles

  • Section 34 Overview and general duty of controller
  • Section 35 The first data protection principle
  • Section 36 The second data protection principle
  • Section 37 The third data protection principle
  • Section 38 The fourth data protection principle
  • Section 39 The fifth data protection principle
  • Section 40 The sixth data protection principle
  • Section 41 Safeguards: archiving
  • Section 42 Safeguards: sensitive processing
  • Section 42A Further provision about sensitive processing
  1. Chapter 2 · Principles
  2. The first data protection principle

Section 35 | The first data protection principle

From legislation.gov.uk

(1)The first data protection principle is that the processing of personal data for any of the law enforcement purposes must be lawful and fair.

(2)The processing of personal data for any of the law enforcement purposes is lawful only if and to the extent that it is based on law and either—

(a)the data subject has given consent to the processing for that purpose, or

(b)the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for that purpose by a competent authority.

(3)In addition, where the processing for any of the law enforcement purposes is sensitive processing, the processing is permitted only in the two cases set out in subsections (4) and (5).

(4)The first case is where—

(a)the data subject has given consent to the processing for the law enforcement purpose as mentioned in subsection (2)(a), and

(b)at the time when the processing is carried out, the controller has an appropriate policy document in place (see ).

(5)The second case is where—

(a)the processing is strictly necessary for the law enforcement purpose,

(b)the processing meets at least one of the conditions in , and

(c)at the time when the processing is carried out, the controller has an appropriate policy document in place (see ).

(6)The Secretary of State may by regulations amend —

(a)by adding conditions;

(b)by varying or omitting conditions added by regulations under paragraph (a).F1

(7)Regulations under subsection (6) are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

(8)In this Part, “sensitive processing” means—F2

(a)the processing of personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs or trade union membership;

(b)the processing of genetic data, or of biometric data, for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual;

(c)the processing of data concerning health;

(d)the processing of data concerning an individual's sex life or sexual orientation.

Notes

  1. F1

    Words in s. 35(6)(b) inserted (20.8.2025) by , ss. 74(4)(a), 142(1); S.I. 2025/904, reg. 2(c)

  2. F2

    Word in substituted (20.8.2025) by , ss. 74(4)(b), 142(1); S.I. 2025/904, reg. 2(c)

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