§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines have been issued to police officers about the implications for the performance of their duties of the criminal offences created by the Data Protection Act involving the abuse of personal data; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawTwo Home Office circulars have been issued to the police about the Data Protection Act (No. 64/1984 and No. 79/1985). Copies of both are available in the Library. They explain that chief officers and their agents, who include civilians employed by forces as well as police officers, would be liable to prosecution under section 5 of the Act for any breach of the user's register entry. An ACPO working party is considering the implications of the Act for the police service.