HC Deb 21 January 1980 vol 977 cc70-1W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which police forces in Scotland keep criminal and offence records on computer; if any other forms of information are stored on computer; and what steps are taken to ensure that outside agencies have no access to this information.

Mr. Rifkind

Tayside police are the only Scottish force to maintain computerised criminal and offence records at present; Dumfries and Galloway constabulary intend to implement shortly a system on Tayside's computer which will give them access to criminal and offence records for their own area only.

As well as police pay and personnel records, some forces store statistical and administrative information including road accident reports, crime and offence records (but excluding details which would identify offenders), stolen property registers and registers of holders of firearm and shotgun licences. Forces which use computers for some or all of these applications are: Central Scotland, Lothian and Borders, Northern, Strathclyde and Tayside. Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders also store details of fixed penalty traffic offences to assist in the collection of unpaid fines.

Forces are fully aware of the need to protect fully the security of data, especially that from which individuals might be identified; techniques of physical and computer security, such as the use of electronic locks, computer passwords and the coding of data are employed to this end.

LOCAL AUTHORITY TENANTS IN SCOTLAND IW INCOME 1978
Income of head of household and wife* Economically active head Economically inactive head All households Per cent.
£ per annum per cent per cent per cent
Under 1,000 1.2 12.4 4.4
1,000–1,999 4.2 61.0 20.5
2,000–2,999 7.7 15.2 9.9
3,000–3,999 14.2 3.8 11.2
4,000–4,999 20.4 4.8 15.9
5,000–5,999 21.9 0.0 15.6
6,000–6,999 12.7 0.9 9.3
7,000 and over 17.7 1.9 13.2
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Sample base (number of households) 260 105 365
Source: Family expenditure survey.
* Gross income before deduction of income tax, national insurance etc.

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