Allegations that News of the World journalists paid police officers for privileged information are just “the tip of the iceberg”, says a new study, which claims over 900 police officers and staff have been disciplined after flouting the Data Protection Act.
But, according to the research from civil liberties watchdog Big Brother Watch, between 2007 and 2010 just 98 police officers were sacked as a result. In Merseyside alone, 208 officers and police staff received criminal convictions for breaching the DPA since 2007.
Big Brother Watch director Daniel Hamilton said: “The allegations surrounding Andy Coulson are just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve managed to find 904 officers who have breached the Act, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the real amount was a multiple of this figure.
“Our investigation shows that not only have police employees been found to have run background records checks on friends and possible partners, but some have been convicted for passing sensitive information to criminal gangs and drug dealers. This is at best hugely intrusive and, at worse, downright dangerous,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton says police responses to staff breaches of the DPA vary across the country. No officers have been sacked or disciplined in London, while 62 had been formally dealt with in Humberside. “Some forces do take this seriously, while others appear to take a lackadaisical approach,” said Hamilton.
A spokesman from the Association of Chief Police Officers said: “All officers are subject to the standards of professional behaviour set out in the Police Conduct Regulations. When an officer’s conduct, on duty or off duty, falls below the standards, there will be an investigation into what has occurred and if the allegation is proven then appropriate action will be taken.”
