*/
The Ministry of Justice has been fined £180,000 for repeated data security failings over confidential information on prisoners and victims of crime.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) served the penalty following the loss of a back-up hard drive at HMP Erlestoke prison in Wiltshire in May 2013, which contained information on 2,935 prisoners, including links to organised crime, health, drug misuse and material about victims and visitors.
The device was not encrypted. The incident followed a similar case in October 2011, when the ICO was alerted to the loss of another unencrypted hard drive containing the details of 16,000 prisoners at HMP High Down prison in Surrey. In May 2012 the prison service provided new hard drives to all prisons still backing-up data in this way, but without instructing that the encryption option should be turned on. ICO Head of Enforcement, Stephen Eckersley, said: “The fact that a government department with security oversight for prisons can supply equipment to 75 prisons throughout England and Wales without properly understanding, let alone telling them, how to use it beggars belief.”
The MOJ, working with the National Offenders and Management Service, has now taken action to ensure all hard drives used by prisons are securely encrypted. Separately, a paralegal has been prosecuted by the ICO under s 55 of the Data Protection Act for illegally taking the sensitive information of over 100 people before leaving for a rival firm. The information, which included workload lists, file notes and template documents, was contained in six emails sent in the weeks before the paralegal left the firm. He was fined £300, ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £438.63 prosecution costs.
The device was not encrypted. The incident followed a similar case in October 2011, when the ICO was alerted to the loss of another unencrypted hard drive containing the details of 16,000 prisoners at HMP High Down prison in Surrey. In May 2012 the prison service provided new hard drives to all prisons still backing-up data in this way, but without instructing that the encryption option should be turned on. ICO Head of Enforcement, Stephen Eckersley, said: “The fact that a government department with security oversight for prisons can supply equipment to 75 prisons throughout England and Wales without properly understanding, let alone telling them, how to use it beggars belief.”
The MOJ, working with the National Offenders and Management Service, has now taken action to ensure all hard drives used by prisons are securely encrypted. Separately, a paralegal has been prosecuted by the ICO under s 55 of the Data Protection Act for illegally taking the sensitive information of over 100 people before leaving for a rival firm. The information, which included workload lists, file notes and template documents, was contained in six emails sent in the weeks before the paralegal left the firm. He was fined £300, ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £438.63 prosecution costs.
The Ministry of Justice has been fined £180,000 for repeated data security failings over confidential information on prisoners and victims of crime.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) served the penalty following the loss of a back-up hard drive at HMP Erlestoke prison in Wiltshire in May 2013, which contained information on 2,935 prisoners, including links to organised crime, health, drug misuse and material about victims and visitors.
Barbara Mills KC, the new Chair of the Bar, outlines some key themes and priorities
A family lawyer has won a £500 donation for her preferred charity, an education centre for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, thanks to drug, alcohol and DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs’ Giving Back campaign
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management highlights some of the ways you can cut your IHT bill
Rachel Davenport breaks down everything you need to know about AlphaBiolabs’ industry-leading laboratory testing services for legal matters
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management sets out the key steps to your dream property
A centre of excellence for youth justice, the Youth Justice Legal Centre provides specialist training, an advice line and a membership programme
What's it like being a legal trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service? Amy describes what drew her to the role, the skills required and a typical day in the life
Barbara Mills KC wants to raise the profile of the family Bar. She also wants to improve wellbeing and enhance equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession. She talks to Joshua Rozenberg KC (hon) about her plans for the year ahead
Professor Dominic Regan and Seán Jones KC identify good value bottles across the price spectrum – from festive fizz to reliable reds
Governments who play fast and loose with the law get into real trouble, says the new Attorney General. The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC talks to Anthony Inglese CB about what drew this boy from Cardiff to the Bar, bringing the barrister ethos to the front bench, and how he will be measuring success
Mark Neale, Director General of the Bar Standards Board, offers an update on the Equality Rules consultation
