Legal Updates - Private Investigators

Data Protection - ICO Investigation – Private Investigators - Data Protection Act 1998 - Breach

The Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) has been placed under an obligation to investigate a number of private investigators. Having received a list of 98 ‘blue chip’ clients of criminal private investigators from the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the ICO is now conducting its investigation with a view to prosecuting those that have breached the Data Protection Act.

Christopher Graham, the Information Commissioner stated:

“It now falls to us to conduct a thorough and efficient investigation with a view to bringing criminal prosecutions where appropriate and taking other civil enforcement action.”

The ICO has pledged to keep its investigation transparent. It has also taken the decision not to publish the names of those subject to the ICO’s investigation at this stage.

Further details on this can be found at the ICO’s website.

How can we help?

Whether you are a start up or an established business, RT Coopers can assist you in meeting your obligations under the Data Protection Act. We conduct due diligence on businesses’ operations in order to determine specific weaknesses to be considered by data controllers. Once these are identified, we would advise you on the remedial measures you should put in place.

You may contact us by email [email protected]. Visit http://www.rtcoopers.com/practice_dataprotection.php

© RT COOPERS, 2013. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.