Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA of 27 November 2008 on the protection of personal data processed in the framework of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters

This framework decision aims to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons when their personal data are processed for the purposes of preventing, investigating, detecting or prosecuting a criminal offence or of executing a criminal penalty. It concerns personal data that are processed in part or entirely by automatic means, as well as personal data forming part of a filing system that are processed by non-automatic means.

Once adopted, this framework decision will be replaced by the Directive on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and the free movement of such data.