Tougher penalties for misuse of personal data

The Ministry of Justice is proposing to toughen the current maximum penalty fines to include a prison sentence for those found guilty of knowing or reckless misuse of personal data. Currently the maximum penalty is £5000 in Magistrates' Courts and an unlimited fine in the Crown Court. These are to be changed to: two years imprisonment for cases heard in the Crown Court and 12 months imprisonment for cases heard in a Magistrates' Court. The courts will also be able to impose community sentences and fines. The results of the public consultation will be known after 7 January 2010.

To register under the DPA and to provide your staff with guidance how to lawfully manage personal data, please visit the Data Protection Act section on our website.