Data protection: a new dialogue – Ministry of Justice

Posted December 9th, 2009 in data protection, press releases by sally

“Justice Minister Michael Wills has given a speech on data protection in the public sector, and responded to a report on the database state.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 8th December 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Information Commissioner’s Office demystifies data protection – Information Commissioner’s Office

Posted December 1st, 2009 in data protection, special report by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has produced a new plain English Guide to Data Protection to provide businesses and organisations with practical advice about the Data Protection Act and dispel myths. The guide will help organisations safeguard personal data and comply with the law. The guide takes a straight-forward look at the principles of the Data Protection Act and uses practical, business-based examples.”

Full guide

Information Commissioner’s Office, 26th November 2009

Source: www.ico.gov.uk

 

£500,000 maximum fine for data protection breaches: Government consults – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 12th, 2009 in data protection, fines, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) would have the power to fine organisations up to £500,000 for serious breaches of data protection principles under plans announced this week by the Ministry of Justice.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th November 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

The Big Question: Why is Britain’s DNA database the biggest in the world, and is it effective? – The Independent

Posted November 12th, 2009 in criminal records, data protection, DNA, news by sally

“Why are we asking this now?

The Home Office has announced a sweeping overhaul of the world’s largest DNA database, which now contains the genetic profiles of more than five million Britons. Civil liberties anger has focussed on the inclusion of samples taken from everyone arrested by police, regardless of whether they have ever been found guilty of an offence.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police may scrap scheme to keep tabs on activists – The Guardian

Posted November 12th, 2009 in data protection, demonstrations, news, police by sally

“The head of Britain’s police chiefs has said that a scheme to monitor political campaigners may be scrapped as part of plans to make national policing more accountable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Terror suspects’ DNA could be held for life – The Independent

Posted November 11th, 2009 in criminal records, data protection, DNA, news by sally

“Terror suspects who are released without charge could face having their DNA profiles stored for life, it was revealed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Burglary and theft account for a third of data security breaches, reports ICO – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 11th, 2009 in burglary, data protection, news, theft by sally

“The biggest security risks for organisations that process people’s personal details are burglary and theft, according to figures just published by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 11th November 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Home Office to keep DNA of innocent for six years, not 12 – The Guardian

Posted November 11th, 2009 in data protection, DNA, news, terrorism by sally

“Home Office ministers are expected to announce a six-year limit on the retention of DNA profiles on the national database for people arrested but not convicted of any offence, bringing it more in line with Scotland, where five years is the norm.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legislation to access public’s texts and emails put on hold – The Guardian

“Legislation for a £2bn Home Office surveillance project to track details of everybody’s email, mobile phone, text and internet use has been put on hold after a consultation raised concerns over its technical feasibility, costs and privacy safeguards.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government to consult on £500,000 penalties for serious breaches of data protection principles – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 9th, 2009 in data protection, fines, news by sally

“The government has today launched a consultation seeking views on implementing a maximum penalty of half a million pounds for serious breaches of the data protection principles.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 9th November 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

More than one in 10 people on DNA database for first time – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2009 in data protection, DNA, news, police by sally

“Police forces in England and Wales have taken the profiles of 5.5 million people, meaning the proportion of the population on the system has passed a tenth for the first time.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police forces challenged over files held on law-abiding protesters – The Guardian

Posted October 27th, 2009 in data protection, demonstrations, news, police by sally

“Chief constables will be forced to justify the legality of recording thousands of law-abiding protesters on secret nationwide databases, the government’s privacy watchdog announced today (26 October).”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Peaceful protesters included on police database of ‘domestic extremists’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 26th, 2009 in data protection, demonstrations, news, police by sally

“Peaceful protesters are being included on a national police database of activists including animal rights activists, far-right groups and other ‘domestic extremists’, according to reports.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Magistrates’ courts error warning – BBC News

Posted October 24th, 2009 in courts, criminal records, data protection, news by sally

“Criminals, including drug dealers and paedophiles, could be evading justice because of errors in magistrates’ courts records, a report has warned.”

Full story

BBC News, 23rd October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chief Constable of Humberside Police and others v Information Commissioner (Secretary of State for the Home Department intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted October 22nd, 2009 in criminal records, data protection, law reports, police by sally

Chief Constable of Humberside Police and others v Information Commissioner (Secretary of State for the Home Department intervening) [2009] EWCA Civ 1079; [2009] WLR (D) 302

“In relation to the national police computer it was for the data controller to determine the purposes for which data was processed. It was a registered purpose to hold information so that it could be supplied to others in legitimate need such as the courts and the Crown Prosecution Service. Consequently there could be no question of the retention of records of old minor convictions being held to be either excessive or being held for longer than necessary.”

WLR Daily, 19th October 2009

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Home Office climbs down over keeping DNA records on innocent – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2009 in data protection, DNA, news by sally

“Civil liberty campaigners claimed a victory today (19 October) after the government announced it is dropping current proposals to retain the DNA profiles of innocent people on the national database.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government outlines increased penalties for data misuse – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 19th, 2009 in data protection, news, penalties, privacy by sally

“The Government has outlined its plans to jail people convicted of trading illegally in personal data or knowingly or recklessly disclosing it. Under the plans the jail terms would be introduced next April.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 19th October 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Police win data deletion appeal – BBC News

Posted October 19th, 2009 in appeals, criminal records, data protection, news, police by sally

“Five police forces which challenged a ruling that they should delete records on criminal convictions from their database have won their appeal.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jail sentences likely for illegal trade in personal data – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2009 in data protection, news, sentencing by sally

“Prison sentences of up to two years for illicitly obtaining confidential personal data, such as phone or medical records, are to be introduced from next April under Ministry of Justice proposals published today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Knowing or reckless misuse of personal data – introducing custodial sentences – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 15th, 2009 in consultations, data protection by sally

“A consultation on exercising the power to provide for custodial sanctions for those found guilty of knowingly or recklessly obtaining, disclosing, selling or procuring the disclosure of personal data without the consent of the data controller.”

Full consultation

Ministry of Justice, 15th October 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk