Dear All, Extract from GC Weekly: "The Information Commissioner's Office has now been given the power to make data protection spot checks without having to gain the prior consent of organisations. But more money and extra resources are needed if it is to make the full use of these powers and enforce when necessary." Have been in touch with the ICO and also checked their Press Releases - nothing. Everyone seems to know about these powers - but unable to point to any recent documentation? Anyone able to help out? Gerry. Newcastle University ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ All archives of messages are stored permanently and are available to the world wide web community at large at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html If you wish to leave this list please send the command leave data-protection to [log in to unmask] All user commands can be found at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm Any queries about sending or receiving messages please send to the list owner [log in to unmask] Full help Desk - please email [log in to unmask] describing your needs To receive these emails in HTML format send the command: SET data-protection HTML to [log in to unmask] (all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^