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I recall a speaker at the JISC Conference "Access and Security" talking about this issue. I think he said that the Police should accompany their request with some "official paperwork" stating the reason for their request. I think it was Jonathan Bamford, Assistant Data Protection Commissioner, who made these remarks. On Fri, 10 Mar 2000, Charles Christacopoulos wrote: > From: Charles Christacopoulos <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 15:54:44 GMT > Subject: RE: Requests for Data by Police > > ** Reply to note from "Walshe, Pat" <[log in to unmask]> Fri, 10 Mar 2000 14:20:50 -0000 > > > > Liz, > > > > I sent this to Edwina . you may be interested: > > > > The Police and other authorised agencies should make a request under the > > Section 29(3) of the DPA 1998. You are not obliged to disclose any data > > unless you have reasonable grounds for believing that any failure to do so > > would be likely to prejudice the purposes for which the data was requested > > (I.e. the prevention or detection of Crime or the Apprehension and > > Prosecution of offenders etc). The Commissioner has stated in her > > Introduction to the DPA 98 that "there would have to be a substantial chance > > rather than a mere risk that in a particular case the purposes would be > > noticeably damaged". > > > > What you need to obtain from the police are details of: > > > > 1: The crime being investigated > > > > 2: The reason for the enquiry (i.e. the appropriate DPA exemption purpose) > > > > 3: How the absence of any information would be likely to prejudice the > > enquiry > > > > Also, if you work for a local authority, you also need to be aware of > > Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which allows the Police and > > local authorities to share information. See > > http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80037--s.htm#115 > > <http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80037--s.htm#115> > > > > Much depends on the information being requested and whether they are asking > > for info on internet usage etc, email access ..... that's a different ball > > game > > > > I hope this helps. > > Most often they ask for addresses esp. for staff or students who have left? > I have yet to meet any policemen who will say why they are looking for info. > > Officialdom says they must appear to be very "police like", like on the tely > :-) > > Although Universities are not under local authority control I am not sure to > what extent we could avoid disclosing addresses. I guess we may need more > proof if they ask for access to other information. > > Any comments? > Charles > > ============================================== > Charles Christacopoulos, Secretary's Office, University of Dundee, > Dundee DD1 4HN, (Scotland) United Kingdom. > Tel: +44+(0)1382-344891. Fax: +44+(0)1382-201604. > http://somis.ais.dundee.ac.uk/ > Scottish Search Maestro http://somis2.ais.dundee.ac.uk/ > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%