Implementing the 20-year rule – transferring to places of deposit

The Public Records Act

Under the Public Records Act, certain public sector organisations are required to select some of their records for permanent preservation and transfer them to a local archive service that is formally appointed as their place of deposit. These organisations include:

  • Magistrates’ courts
  • Coroners’ courts
  • NHS organisations
  • Prisons, including young offender institutes

E-learning course

The National Archives’ Transferring to Places of Deposit e-learning course is designed to help staff from courts, hospitals, the prison service, and other arm’s length bodies to comply with their organisation’s responsibilities under the Public Records Act and to understand the processes involved in transferring records.

This hour-long course will give you background to the Public Records Act, explaining what places of deposit are, and what your organisation will need to do to stay compliant as part of the move to the 20-year rule. The course covers the key stages of the transfer process, with step-by-step instructions to help you locate, select and transfer your records, and provides advice and guidance to help you get the work done.

To register for the course, please complete the online registration form.