By Andy McCue, 14 June 2006 16:10
NEWS
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has revealed that it made more than £6m last year selling access to the names and addresses of motorists to private sector companies such as wheel clamper, bailiffs and debt collection agencies.
That represents a 27 per cent increase on the £5m the DVLA earned from selling vehicle ownership details to the private sector the previous year.
The DVLA currently charges an administration fee of £2.50 to anyone who can demonstrate "reasonable cause" to receive the information from the vehicle database. Once the request is approved a company can submit a car registration number to find out the name and address of the vehicle's owner.
The practice sparked controversy earlier this year when it was revealed convicted criminals and companies that didn't even exist had been granted access to names and addresses from the vehicle database.
This forced the government to announce a review of the regulations covering the release of information because of concern about the breadth of organisations that now have access to the register.
One of the issues is that "reasonable cause" is not defined in the law but a DVLA spokesman said it takes its duty under the Data Protection Act to protect the privacy of motorists "very seriously" and said each request is considered on merit.
He said: "Applicants must provide as much detail as possible to support their request. Insufficient information or use of data outside the 'reasonable cause' provisions will mean refusal of the application. Members of the public are subject to more stringent checks and must provide supporting evidence such as police reports and their insurance details."
Comments
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1. Jeremy Wickins
Remember this when you next think about ID cards - the government regards all personal data in its posession as a financial resource.
2. Charles Wood
This story is a suprise to me, I have never at any time willingly given permission to the DVLA to disclose my information to anyone. Are they not breaking the data protection act ? Is there an opt out clause on some form somewhere or is this another example of how governments, communist, American or otherwise, misuse information from it's citizens?
3. Paul Fretter
Maybe I missed something, but I do not recall ever giving DVLA permission to sell on my details. If this is true, then I regard DVLA's actions as a clear breach of confidentiality and trust.
4. Charles Smith
Selling motorist details is nothing new. I used to work at the DVLA/DVLC 30 years ago and the same rules were in operation at that time.
If you had a valid reason you could make an enquiry as to the keeper (not the owner) of the vehicle. If I recollect correctly the fee was £2.50 even then. There was a clear list of circumstances as to what constituted a reasonable query. This was a carry over from the procedures when vehicle licences were administered by 120 local council offices on paper records.
5. anonymous
Oh, whoppee doo...
So Billy Burgler sees me & mine in the family car at the seaside.
For £2.50 he can find the address of my empty house to sell to his burglar chums near where I live.
Makes me ecstatic, that thought...
What are the government up to?
6. Radical Meldrew
Appalingly the Data Protection Act does not seem to restrict certain government bodies from acting as they wish when passing on information to third parties.
The one noticable exception is when a member of the public asks them to account for their disclosure policy - "Er sorry, can't comment on that for fear of falling outside the DPA rules"
7. anonymous
Surely there should be opt in or opt out. If they are selling the information this should be the case.