ICO has powers to fine £500,00 for data security breaches

From 6th April 2010 the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has had the power to issue fines of up to £500,000 to organisations in serious breach of the Data Protection Act.

Under section 55a of the Data Protection Act 1998, the ICO can impose a fine if there has been a serious contravention of data protection principles by a data controller and the contravention could cause substantial damage or distress.

According to the ICO, fines are more likely to be imposed if an organisation has failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the data loss.

All of this illustrates the importance of ensuring your Company has a Data Protection policy in place and all your data is disposed of and stored securely.

MD Speaks at London Fraud Forum

Russell Harris, Shred Secure MD, was asked to speak at the London Fraud Forum organised by the Metropolitan Police, in October.

Russell was delighted to take this opportunity to talk to London based Companies on ID Fraud. He explained how to choose a confidential shredding company, taking listeners through the standards to look out for, environmental responsibilities of Confidential Shredding Companies and the cost of ID Fraud.

An audience with ID fraud MP for BSIA Information Destruction Section

Left: Russell Harris, BSIA ID Section Chairman. Right: Nigel Evans MP,
Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Identity Fraud

The British Security Industry Association's Information Destruction Section had an audience with Nigel Evans MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Identity Fraud, at the House of Commons yesterday.

The section was able to ask questions on the impact of the Data Protection Act and the role of the Information Commissioner, and to voice concerns about the need for businesses to take the disposal of their confidential information very seriously.

Russell Harris, BSIA Information Destruction Section Chairman, comments: "Protecting confidential information is an essential practice for any business or public sector organisation. With an existing interest in identity fraud, Nigel Evans MP acknowledged this and was sympathetic to the need to destroy confidential information effectively and securely."

"The BSIA Information Destruction Section wishes to raise awareness at a Government level of the need to shred confidential information securely and for the Data Protection Act to be actively enforced. The visit to the House of Commons was a step forward in this and we intend to further engage with MPs and the business community to take these aims forward."

For more information on the work of the BSIA Information Destruction Section, visit www.bsia.co.uk/shredding

Editor’s Notes
The British Security Industry Association is the trade association covering all aspects of the professional security industry in the UK. Its members provide over 70% of UK security products and services and adhere to strict quality standards. For more information see www.bsia.co.uk, email info@bsia.co.uk or telephone 0845 389 3889.

Press contacts: Kiri Gray 0845 389 0755 k.gray@bsia.co.uk