Federation reaction to data losses

22 August 2008

 

Simon Reed, Vice Chairman, Police Federation of England and Wales:

It really is baffling how these data losses keep occurring, and alarming that no lessons seem to be being learnt on how to prevent and avoid mistakes in the future.

The criminal justice system is already rife with problems but this latest loss of criminals’ data is a real blow for police officers across the country who work tirelessly trying to put these criminals away. Not only is it frustrating to see the hours of work put in compiling this information, lost, but hugely embarrassing having a situation where the criminal is the one owed an apology.

Police officers who err from procedure or flout systems undergo protracted enquiries by the IPCC and are then subject to a disciplinary board. We trust the Home Office and companies hired to contract are subject to similar stringency.

Ends

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