Choosing police station duty location and revised data protection notices and declarations

This update contains information about system changes that will go live on the evening of Wednesday 23 May relating to entering police station locations for Criminal Justice Act – Police Station A&A, the Data Protection Bill and training and guidance.

We have made changes to the police station/custody advice application. Now when you enter the Police Scotland National Custody System Unique Reference Number the police station location should be selected from the list displayed. This is to help us ensure we have more accurate geographical records reflecting where advice is being given.

If there is a problem with the custody reference number – such as it showing as one that’s already been used – please contact us rather than trying to bypass inserting the number. We will be able to check the number and make any changes required. This will ensure there is no delay with your application.

If you do encounter a problem please telephone Accounts on 0131 560 2135.

To comply with the new data protection legislation, which includes the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Bill when it becomes an Act, we have revised the wording of the data protection notice and declarations in the legal aid application printable summaries.

Where the printable summary is printed prior to submission of the application, the applicant and solicitor signed name and date will be blank. If the summary is printed post-submission, the name and date of signing will be automatically entered.

The data protection notices on the printable forms and online declarations available from our website will also be updated. These revised versions will be published shortly and we will update you when they are online. A webpage containing information on how we process data and the rights of applicants and assisted persons under the new legislation will also be added so you can direct your clients to this if they have any queries.

The guidance section on our website currently contains training videos and interactive PDFs for the accounts products that are now live, including the new paper account process.

Please open the Guidance page and bookmark it so that you are able to access it easily whenever necessary. A link to the guidance section has also been added to the LAOL login screen.

Webinars are currently available for the products previously rolled out.

For further information or to arrange a webinar on any of the existing live account products, please contact Christine Connerton, Digital Services Marketing Officer connertonch@slab.org.uk