§ Mr. Cohenasked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions will initiate a prosecution under the terms of the Data Protection Act for the unauthorised disclosure of personal data from the Police National Computer to private detectives by a police officer in Essex constabulary, discovered during the police investigation of the bugging of the director of Comet Electricals in November 1986; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-GeneralInquiries are continuing into allegations of unauthorised disclosure of personal data from the police national computer. A decision as to the institution of criminal proceedings will be made when the inquiries are complete.