It looks as if there is an interesting FOI request about misuse of personal
data doing the rounds.
Chris
http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/8769940.Police_in_39_data_protection_law
_breaches/
North Yorkshire Police in 39 data protection law breaches
8:10am Wednesday 5th January 2011
By Julie Hayes
NORTH Yorkshire police officers and staff breached data protection laws 39
times in the past three years, the force has revealed.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, North Yorkshire Police said
the incidents included officers and staff conducting checks of private
telephone numbers, obtaining personal data without consent, accessing
personal and custody records "inappropriately and without good reason" and
attempting to secure unauthorised access to computer programmes and data.
In February 2009, one PCSO was accused of misusing systems to pass
information on to local criminals and an officer looked up a motor vehicle
he was in the process of buying to check if there were any outstanding
reports relating to it.
North Yorkshire and York NHS Trust, who had a similar FOI request, said it
had not disciplined any of its staff for illegally or inappropriately
accessing the personal data of a member of the public over the past three
years.
City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council, refused the request
because they keep no central register and collating the information would
take longer under the appropriate limit stated in the Freedom of Information
Act.
Assistant Chief Constable Sue Cross, of North Yorkshire Police, said the
organisation's and individuals' responsibilities in ensuring the integrity
of police information and personal data was regularly reinforced to all
staff during training and ongoing use of systems.
She said: "We believe that this system is fair to those who have made a
genuine mistake, while at the same time dealing very robustly with any
serious non-compliance which might occur.
"Members of the public can be reassured that data security is of the utmost
importance to North Yorkshire Police.
"We are very proud of our record in setting out and enforcing high standards
of professional behaviour."
The use of restricted force data systems and email is monitored as part of
the core activity of the Professional Standards Directorate to enable the
force to identify any non-compliance and to investigate any suspected
transgressions.
Sanctions include verbal advice, written warnings, formal reprimands and, in
the most serious cases, dismissal, she said.
C Copyright 2001-2011 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk
Dr. C. N. M. Pounder
Director, Amberhawk Training Ltd
Phone: 0845 680 2623 or Mob: 07735 365 585
www.amberhawk.com
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