20-year rule and records of local interest

The Public Records Act requires certain public bodies to transfer records of historical value for permanent preservation to local archive services appointed as ‘places of deposit’. Changes in legislation mean that, since 1 January 2015, specified local public sector organisations (magistrates’ courts, prisons, coroners’ courts, NHS bodies and some arms-length bodies including the Environment Agency) must now transfer records selected for permanent preservation to a place of deposit at 20 years after their creation, rather than the previous 30 years.

Read guidance for transferring organisations

The Programme

The Public Records Act requires certain public bodies to transfer records of historical value for permanent preservation to local archive services appointed as ‘places of deposit’.

Guidance for places of deposit

Places of deposit should expect to accession more public records during the transition period but there is New Burdens funding to help with this.