Rightsnet news 11/10/07

"Checks have identified the following types of misuse - access to own record; access to friend's and family's records; access to neighbour's records; access to celebrity records.'

Unauthorised disclosure, leaking information, or unauthorised access is a criminal offence, the guidance warns, and the Department has a number of measures in place to identify misuse."

If its a criminal offence what action has been taken against those mentioned above? Or have I missed it in the news. Scary stuff when you look at the proposals to extend similar priveleges to CAB etc

guidance bulletin says -

'Any person found misusing the Department's data will be considered for disciplinary action ranging from access to the Department’s data being removed; dismissal, or prosecution and possible imprisonment in the most extreme cases.

LAs and their contractors are required to take stringent actions against anyone found to have deliberately disclosed or misused the Department’s data in any way.

Most of these breaches have resulted in dismissal and permanent ban from accessing the Department's data.'

"Scary stuff when you look at the proposals to extend similar priveleges (sp) to CAB etc"

What's that mean? I do hope you're not going to tar everyone with the same brush - i can assure you that if our bureau is one of the CABx extended this very dubious "privilege" that we will have strict systems in place to make sure that abuse of the system does not occur.

Nicky

Is that so Nicky. What checks will they be then and how can you gaurantee the honesty, integrity of everyone allowed accesss. The above abuses I'm assuming occurred because those concerned had too much access and yet there must have been "strict systems" to safegaurd against such violations. The only failsafe I can think of is that any access to client files be authorised before entry. But that would probably be cumbersome.

Lets get one thing straight. I dont agree with the shared IT contact being talked about between the CAB and DWP. Nor would I agree with it if it were Welfare Rights workers or any other group My own feeling is that the more bodies given largesse to view these screens the more possibility of misuse - whoever they are. So am I tarring everyone with the same brush. You bet.

Cumbersome or not i reiterate that our systems would not let abuse occur. Cumbersome should not come into it when confidentiality is at stake.

Our office is small in comparison to, say, Liberata, who administer our housing/council tax benefit in this area - i would say CABx and other smaller offices would have much more control and are better able to prevent abuse of any system such as this, than the bigger local authority type offices.

Just because you do not agree with something does not mean that it cannot work.

Personally - and this is a personal view and not CAB - i don't see why we need it and, i don't really want the responsibility of it.