Information Commissioner granted new fining powers

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Are you aware that the Data Protection Act has recently been amended to grant the Information Commissioner fining powers for serious breaches of any of the data protection principles? Prior to this change, enforcement was by notice to stop a certain use of personal data or to change policy or procedure. Failure to comply with an enforcement notice could then be taken through the courts, possibly resulting in fines. However, going forward there will be no need for a prior enforcement notice but a notice to fine. The level of fines has not yet been published but this is a very important new power for the Information Commissioner.

Given the recent media attention which data protection has received, we can be sure that this topic will gain more and more attention in the coming months and years and it is now more important than ever for companies to ensure that their houses are in order.

If you or your employees who deal with personal data (including employee data, customer data, marketing databases, third party data, supplier data and any other types of personal data) have not attended a data protection course, now is the time to.

Westbrook Data Protection Services is offering a one-day introductory course to data protection course. Please email info@wdps.co.uk, inserting training in the subject heading for further details. If you would like a course tailored to your business or a shorter session, please also contact us.

Remember that ignorance is no defence!