Another aspect of Police contact - recently my car was broken into for the
radio. I reported it to the Police, but as anticipated they were not able to
do much. Window and radio were quickly replaced, and I thought no more about
it. Until, that is, about a month later I received a communication from a
completely separate organization representing "Victims of Crime". No doubt a
good and useful body for society, but I was a little surprised that my data
had been given out without my knowledge or say-so.
Tim
--
Tim M. Wright
Director - Technology Audit
Charles Schwab Europe
Tel: +44 190 852 7793
Mobile: +44 7932 669 074
Fax: +44 190 852 7593
-----Original Message-----
From: Krissy Welsh [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 January 2001 10:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Police Research
Just wondered if anyone would like to comment on the
following scenario:
Individual rings up local constabulary to report an incident
concerned with
criminal damage. They provide their name, address and
details of the incident and
are told to report any further incidents straight away (at
which point a patrol car
will be sent out).
Approximately 4 weeks after the incident, individual
receives a research
questionnaire addressed to 'The Occupier' which states 'Our
records show that you
recently contacted the police about an incident of disorder
or anti social
behaviour. The purpose of this questionnaire is to obtain
your views about the
quality of the service you received from an officer who
visited you shortly after
you reported the incident. The questionnaire has been sent
to a number of people
and is anonymous'.
At the end of a questionnaire is a tick box that states 'if
you would like to take
part in further research do not forget to leave your name,
address and telephone
number'.
I am sure that the purpose of this research is to improve
the service that the
police provide and perhaps I am either highly cynical,
highly suspicious or just
can't get away from the world of data protection but I would
be interested to know
if anyone has any thoughts on this (that's the above
scenario, not my state of
mind)!
Thanks
Krissy Welsh
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