EdLaw nat/gb/dpa-2018/SPECIAL-CATEGORIES-CONDITIONS.md

language: en · last checked: 2026-10-06

Schedule 1 — special categories and criminal convictions conditions

The conditions that section 10 requires for processing special category data under Article 9(2)(b), (g), (h), (i) or (j) of the UK GDPR, and criminal convictions data under Article 10: Part 1 (employment, health and research), Part 2 (substantial public interest, including safeguarding of children and of individuals at risk), Part 3 (criminal convictions) and Part 4 (the appropriate policy document and additional safeguards).

Part 1 — Conditions relating to employment, health and research etc

Paragraph 1 — Employment, social security and social protection

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 See also the additional safeguards in Part 4 of this Schedule.

3 In this paragraph—

Paragraph 2 — Health or social care purposes

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing is necessary for health or social care purposes.

2 In this paragraph “health or social care purposes” means the purposes of—

3 See also the conditions and safeguards in Article 9(3) of the UK GDPR (obligations of secrecy) and section 11(1).

Paragraph 3 — Public health

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing—

Paragraph 4 — Research etc

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing—

Part 2 — Substantial public interest conditions

Paragraph 5 — Requirement for an appropriate policy document when relying on conditions in this Part

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 Except as otherwise provided, a condition in this Part of this Schedule is met only if, when the processing is carried out, the controller has an appropriate policy document in place (see paragraph 39 in Part 4 of this Schedule).

2 See also the additional safeguards in Part 4 of this Schedule.

Paragraph 6 — Statutory etc and government purposes

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 Those purposes are—

Paragraph 7 — Administration of justice and parliamentary purposes

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing is necessary—

Paragraph 8 — Equality of opportunity or treatment

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 In sub-paragraph (1), “specified” means specified in the following table—

3 Processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) if it is carried out for the purposes of measures or decisions with respect to a particular data subject.

4 Processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) if it is likely to cause substantial damage or substantial distress to an individual.

5 Processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) if—

Paragraph 9 — Racial and ethnic diversity at senior levels of organisations

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d), processing can reasonably be carried out without the consent of the data subject only where—

3 Processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) if it is likely to cause substantial damage or substantial distress to an individual.

4 For the purposes of this paragraph, an individual holds a senior position in an organisation if the individual—

5 Those positions are—

6 In this paragraph, “senior manager”, in relation to an organisation, means a person who plays a significant role in—

7 The reference in sub-paragraph (2)(b) to a data subject withholding consent does not include a data subject merely failing to respond to a request for consent.

Paragraph 10 — Preventing etc unlawful acts

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 If the processing consists of the disclosure of personal data to a competent authority, or is carried out in preparation for such disclosure, the condition in sub-paragraph (1) is met even if, when the processing is carried out, the controller does not have an appropriate policy document in place (see paragraph 5 of this Schedule).

3 In this paragraph—

Paragraph 11 — Protecting the public against dishonesty etc

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 In this paragraph, “protective function” means a function which is intended to protect members of the public against—

Paragraph 12 — Regulatory requirements relating to unlawful acts and dishonesty etc

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 In this paragraph—

Paragraph 13 — Journalism etc in connection with unlawful acts and dishonesty etc

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 The matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) are any of the following (whether alleged or established)—

3 The condition in sub-paragraph (1) is met even if, when the processing is carried out, the controller does not have an appropriate policy document in place (see paragraph 5 of this Schedule).

4 In this paragraph—

Paragraph 14 — Preventing fraud

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 In this paragraph, “anti-fraud organisation” has the same meaning as in section 68 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.

Paragraph 15 — Suspicion of terrorist financing or money laundering

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing is necessary for the purposes of making a disclosure in good faith under either of the following—

Paragraph 16 — Support for individuals with a particular disability or medical condition

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 The following types of personal data fall within this sub-paragraph—

3 An individual falls within this sub-paragraph if the individual is or has been a member of the body mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and—

4 For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d), processing can reasonably be carried out without the consent of the data subject only where—

5 In this paragraph—

6 The reference in sub-paragraph (4)(b) to a data subject withholding consent does not include a data subject merely failing to respond to a request for consent.

Paragraph 17 — Counselling etc

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 The reasons mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) are—

Paragraph 18 — Safeguarding of children and of individuals at risk

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 The reasons mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c) are—

3 For the purposes of this paragraph, an individual aged 18 or over is “at risk” if the controller has reasonable cause to suspect that the individual—

4 In sub-paragraph (1)(a), the reference to the protection of an individual or of the well-being of an individual includes both protection relating to a particular individual and protection relating to a type of individual.

Paragraph 19 — Safeguarding of economic well-being of certain individuals

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 The reasons mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c) are—

3 In this paragraph, “individual at economic risk” means an individual who is less able to protect his or her economic well-being by reason of physical or mental injury, illness or disability.

Paragraph 20 — Insurance

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 Sub-paragraph (3) applies where—

3 Where this sub-paragraph applies, the processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) unless, in addition to meeting the requirements in that sub-paragraph, it can reasonably be carried out without the consent of the data subject.

4 For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), processing can reasonably be carried out without the consent of the data subject only where—

5 In this paragraph—

6 The reference in sub-paragraph (4)(b) to a data subject withholding consent does not include a data subject merely failing to respond to a request for consent.

7 Terms used in the definition of “insurance contract” in sub-paragraph (5) and also in an order made under section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (regulated activities) have the same meaning in that definition as they have in that order.

Paragraph 21 — Occupational pensions

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d), processing can reasonably be carried out without the consent of the data subject only where—

3 In this paragraph—

4 The reference in sub-paragraph (2)(b) to a data subject withholding consent does not include a data subject merely failing to respond to a request for consent.

Paragraph 22 — Political parties

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 Processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) if it is likely to cause substantial damage or substantial distress to a person.

3 Processing does not meet the condition in sub-paragraph (1) if—

4 In this paragraph, “political activities” include campaigning, fund-raising, political surveys and case-work.

Paragraph 23 — Elected representatives responding to requests

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 Where the request is made by an individual other than the data subject, the condition in sub-paragraph (1) is met only if the processing must be carried out without the consent of the data subject for one of the following reasons—

3 In this paragraph, “elected representative” means—

4 For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), a person who is—

5 For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), a person who is an elected member of the Common Council of the City of London and whose term of office comes to an end at the end of the day preceding the annual Wardmotes is to be treated as if he or she were such a member until the end of the fourth day after the day on which those Wardmotes are held.

Paragraph 24 — Disclosure to elected representatives

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 Where the request to the elected representative came from an individual other than the data subject, the condition in sub-paragraph (1) is met only if the disclosure must be made without the consent of the data subject for one of the following reasons—

3 In this paragraph, “elected representative” has the same meaning as in paragraph 23.

Paragraph 25 — Informing elected representatives about prisoners

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 The references in sub-paragraph (1) to personal data about, and to informing someone about, a prisoner include personal data about, and informing someone about, arrangements for the prisoner's release.

3 In this paragraph—

Paragraph 26 — Publication of legal judgments

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing—

Paragraph 27 — Anti-doping in sport

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing is necessary—

2 The reference in sub-paragraph (1)(a) to measures designed to eliminate doping includes measures designed to identify or prevent doping.

3 If the processing consists of the disclosure of personal data to a body or association described in sub-paragraph (1)(a), or is carried out in preparation for such disclosure, the condition in sub-paragraph (1) is met even if, when the processing is carried out, the controller does not have an appropriate policy document in place (see paragraph 5 of this Schedule).

Paragraph 28 — Standards of behaviour in sport

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if the processing—

2 In sub-paragraph (1)(a), the reference to measures designed to protect the integrity of a sport or a sporting event is a reference to measures designed to protect a sport or a sporting event against—

Part 3 — Additional conditions relating to criminal convictions etc

Paragraph 29 — Consent

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the data subject has given consent to the processing.

Paragraph 30 — Protecting individual's vital interests

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if—

Paragraph 31 — Processing by not-for-profit bodies

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing is carried out—

Paragraph 32 — Personal data in the public domain

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing relates to personal data which is manifestly made public by the data subject.

Paragraph 33 — Legal claims

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing—

Paragraph 34 — Judicial acts

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing is necessary when a court or tribunal is acting in its judicial capacity.

Paragraph 35 — Administration of accounts used in commission of indecency offences involving children

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 This condition is met if—

2 Those offences are an offence under—

3 See also the additional safeguards in Part 4 of this Schedule.

4 In this paragraph—

Paragraph 36 — Extension of conditions in Part 2 of this Schedule referring to substantial public interest

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing would meet a condition in Part 2 of this Schedule but for an express requirement for the processing to be necessary for reasons of substantial public interest.

Paragraph 37 — Extension of insurance conditions

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This condition is met if the processing—

Part 4 — Appropriate policy document and additional safeguards

Paragraph 38 — Application of this Part of this Schedule

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

This Part of this Schedule makes provision about the processing of personal data carried out in reliance on a condition in Part 1, 2 or 3 of this Schedule which requires the controller to have an appropriate policy document in place when the processing is carried out.

Paragraph 39 — Requirement to have an appropriate policy document in place

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

The controller has an appropriate policy document in place in relation to the processing of personal data in reliance on a condition described in paragraph 38 if the controller has produced a document which—

Paragraph 40 — Additional safeguard: retention of appropriate policy document

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

1 Where personal data is processed in reliance on a condition described in paragraph 38, the controller must during the relevant period—

2 “Relevant period”, in relation to the processing of personal data in reliance on a condition described in paragraph 38, means a period which—

Paragraph 41 — Additional safeguard: record of processing

Verbatim from legislation.gov.uk (consolidated text, valid as at 2026-09-30).

A record maintained by the controller, or the controller's representative, under Article 30 of the UK GDPR in respect of the processing of personal data in reliance on a condition described in paragraph 38 must include the following information—

Sources