MPs call for prison sentences for Data Protection Act breaches

UK PARLIAMENT MINISTERS have called for harsher penalties, including prison sentences, for breaches of the Data Protection Act.

The Justice Committee released a report calling for much tougher sentences than the small fines employed today, which they believe fail to act as sufficient deterrent when the financial gain often exceeds the penalty.

"Magistrates and Judges need to be able to hand out custodial sentences when serious misuses of personal information come to light," said Sir Alan Beith, chair of the Justice Committee. "Parliament has provided that power, but Ministers have not yet brought it into force - they must do so."

The MPs want new powers for the Information Commissioner so that private sector organisations can be forced to undergo information audits, a power which the MPs believe would have helped identify issues with referral fees in cases of insurance companies and personal injury lawyers.

The MPs also want a ban on referral fees altogether and the introduction of prison sentences to act as a proper deterrent.

The report highlighted several case studies that make it clear that changes are needed. In one study a nurse was providing her partner, who worked for an accident management company, the details of patients. She was fined £150 per offence, but gained up to £900 per incident from the accident management company, making it more rewarding to continue breaching the Data Protection Act.

Another case involved a woman accessing the bank account details of the victim of sexual assault by her husband. A meagre fine of £100 per offence was introduced, which is almost a slap in the face for the privacy of the individual. µ