Such acts are in breach of the 1998 Data Protection Act, which
makes it an offence “knowingly or recklessly, without the consent
of the data controller, to obtain or disclose personal data.”
According to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which
prosecuted the case, private eye David Sibley, of West Wickham, had
been asked by a solicitors’ firm to investigate an individual who
was making an insurance claim.
Sibley disclosed the personal account information after calls
were made by third parties to the victim’s elderly mother and to
two of the victim’s banks.
“I am delighted with the outcome of this investigation and
prosecution,” said Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas.
“Obtaining other people’s personal information by unlawful means is
a serious offence and my Office will not hesitate to pursue those
who knowingly breach the Data Protection Act in this way.”
“Many different people and organisations hold this sort of
information about us and we have a right to feel safe and secure
that the data is controlled properly and is not used for purposes
other than those for which we intended. Today’s prosecution shows
that the Data Protection Act is there to ensure that individuals’
personal information is secure, accurate, up-to-date and is
processed fairly,” he added.
