'Data sharing could aid crackdown on crime'

The government is investigating new data-sharing measures which would aid in the fight against organised crime.

The Home Office is proposing law enforcement such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) be allowed to break through the red tape of the Data Protection Act to access a number of databases - with the hope this would help capture more criminals.

Home Secretary John Reid said in a statement: "The proposals are to prevent criminals from operating on UK soil. We also know that financial criminals are experts at exploiting and using information held by agencies, which is why we are focusing on improved data sharing.

"We are determined to bear down on the people who are engaged in organised criminal activity in the UK."

According to government figures, organised crime costs the UK in excess of £20bn each year.

As well as making it easier for authorities to use data from private and public sector databases, the proposals include a new 'prevention order' that would restrict criminals' movements and transactions.

The government claims the measures will isolate those people involved in drug trafficking, organised immigration crime, credit card and identity fraud and money laundering.

The consultation on the proposals will conclude in October.

Last week the information commissioner, Richard Thomas, whose job it is to monitor abuses of data, said he encouraged the sharing of data in the public sector.

While launching his annual report, Thomas said data protection provides a framework for sharing personal information across the public sector and should not be seen as a barrier.

"I do not want data protection to be wrongly blamed for preventing sensible information sharing, for example to detect crime, protect children at risk or prevent fraud," he said in a statement.

"Trust and confidence will be lost if information is inaccurate or out of date, if there are mistakes of identification, if information is not kept securely or if reasonable expectations of privacy are not met. And people must be told how their information is being shared and given choices wherever possible."