Information Commissioner calls for custodial sentences

Parliamentary reporter, Computing, Friday 27 November 2009 at 14:10:00

Data leak that had lethal consequences highlights need for stiffer penalties,
says Information Commissioner

The Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, has called for custodial
sentences for serious breaches of the data protection law following the death of
a pensioner caused by illegal disclosure of police information.

The data, which had been held on the Police National Computer, contained the
address of a 79-year-old man that was passed on by an officer to a member of the
public.

The pensioner had been involved in a dispute with a woman regarding a parking
space.

The member of the public acting on behalf of the woman involved subsequently
threw a brick through the pensioner's window resulting in his death through
shock.

Two men were convicted of manslaughter, but the police officer could only be
fined �1,200.

Another case involved a civilian employee of Essex Police who accessed
intelligence data illegally on 800 cases but could only be fined �750.

Graham said in the report that existing penalties "only have a limited
detrimental effect" and that making imprisonment a penalty would underline the
serious nature of the offence.

He said the development of new systems and more interconnection meant
disclosure risks were becoming greater and that it was essential to create
effective sanctions to maintain public trust.

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2254097/information-commissioner-calls