(c)a disclosure made to the Secretary of State, or a person providing services to the Secretary of State, for the purposes of the exercise of functions relating to social security matters (within the meaning of section 128) [F1or child support];

(d)a disclosure made for the purposes of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings (whether or not in the United Kingdom);

(e)a disclosure made for the purposes of—

(i)the exercise of any functions of the prosecutor under Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002;

(ii)the exercise of any functions of the Serious Organised Crime Agency under that Act;

(iii)the exercise of any functions of the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or the Scottish Ministers under, or in relation to, Part 5 or 8 of that Act;

(iv)investigations or proceedings outside the United Kingdom which have led or may lead to the making of an external order within the meaning of section 447 of that Act;

(f)a disclosure made to a person exercising public functions of law enforcement for the purposes of the exercise of those functions in civil proceedings;

(g)a disclosure which in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions is desirable for the purpose of safeguarding national security;

(h)a disclosure made in pursuance of an order of a court;

(i)a disclosure made with the consent of each person to whom the information relates.

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to information relating to schemes and arrangements under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973.

(4)Subsection (1) is subject to any other Act or to an instrument made under an Act.

(5)A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence.

(6)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section of disclosing information to prove that he or she reasonably believed—

(a)that the disclosure was lawful, or

(b)that the information had already and lawfully been made available to the public.

(7)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both, or

(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.

(8)A prosecution for an offence under this section may be instituted only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(9)In relation to an offence under this section committed before [F22 May 2022], the reference in subsection (7)(b) to twelve months shall have effect as if it were a reference to six months.