>Gwenan
I am chair of SDPG a sub group of SOCITM (IT Managers in Local
Government)
We have raised similar issue concerning Customs and Excise and Inland
Revenue with the ODPC (OIC) and they have advised that they are
concerned and will investigate and give guidance..... but not for few
months.
we have issued a warning to our members about this.
I can copy information to this mail list if you want.
Note also the Social Security Fraud Bill seeks very wide powers to
access information about "suspects". The was published on the 18
December 2000 and introduces new powers to investigate, punish and deter
benefit fraud.
including data from along list including...
Telecoms companies
Educational establishments
Universities and colleges admissions
Student Loans Company
Even these powers seem to limit requests to ..
only make enquiries where there are "reasonable grounds" for believing
that
a. a person has contravened social security legislation or is likely to
do so
b. a person has committed or is likely to commit a benefits offence
c. belongs to a set of persons who are more likely than others to fall
within (a) or (b) above
d. is a family member of a person falling within (a)(b) or (c) above
e.g. married and unmarried partners and children and dependants which
claimants or their partners are responsible for.
so FISHING is not covered by this...
Terry
In message <[log in to unmask]>, Gwenan Owen
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>I wonder whether anyone else (possibly in the HE sector) has recently
>received a letter from the Benefits Investigation Service?
>
>At Bangor it was sent to the Academic Registrar and says that they are
>currently making enquiries in connection with a number of offences which
>appear to have been committed against the Benefits Agency and believe that
>the university could help them progress the investigations. It goes on to
>request a computer produced list of all current undergraduates showing
>names, date of birth, national insurance numbers and start date of
>course(s)! Obviously alarm bells started to ring in the Academic Registry
>and they sent the letter on to me.
>
>The letter goes on to say that under section 28 of the Data Protection Act
>1984 (!) disclosure of this information is permitted (and they very
>helpfully give a photocopy of the relevant section).
>
>Now, I'm not sure at all about this. As I read it this section 28 (or I
>think section 29 of the 'new' 1998 Act) does talk about the prevention and
>detection of crime etc. but surely this would be classed as a 'fishing'
>exercise? It would perhaps be a different thing if they requested
>information on a specific student because they had reason to believe
>him/her to be defrauding the Agency?
>
>I would really welcome some guidance and comments on this!
>
>Gwenan
>--
>______________________________________________________________________
>
>Gwenan Owen
>Copyright/Data Protection Officer
>
>Information Services, University of Wales Bangor,
>Main Arts Library, College Road,
>Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, UK
>
>tel: (01248) 382413
>fax: (01248) 382979
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>______________________________________________________________________
>
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___________________________________________________
Terry Street MA, MBCS, MBAC, Consultant.
Chair SOCITM-SDPG
visit my website:
http://www.tstreet.demon.co.uk or email:[log in to unmask]
Tel/fax 02476 4175745 Mobile 07785 916060.
________________________________________________
--
Terry Street
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