Police forces are threatening to withhold information from a Government crime database over fears the project could breach data protection laws.
Published: 9:10AM BST 19 Oct 2009
As part of a multi-million pound Government scheme, forces across England and Wales have been asked to provide more detailed records on staff fitness, training and even maritlal status.
The results will create a new online ''data hub'' where civil servants can access statistics for research.
But senior Metropolitan Police staff believe the amount of information required is excessive and question how it will be used and protected.
Some are concerned about the Government's track record in the wake of a series of embarrassing data leaks.
A meeting will be held in central London this week to try and overcome the hurdles which could threaten the project if other forces follow suit.
It will be attended by staff from the Met, Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officer (Acpo) and the Information Commissioner's Office.
At the heart of the dispute is differing legal advice over who owns information about crimes and police employees.
Home Office officials initially told forces they have the power to order them to provide more detailed information.
But they stepped back from this after individual forces questioned their interpretation of the law.
Solicitors have since told Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson the Data Protection Act may stop some details being handed over.
The new data hub would contain details about every crime, rather than summaries covering specific areas.
These include crime reference number, date, exact location, crime type, aggravating factors and details of the victim and offender, excluding their names.
Discussions began in 2007 and 30 forces, not including the Met, have provided test data so far.
James Cleverley, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said: ''I doubt any of us would object to data sharing in support of an agreed and specific outcome.
''But this rather looks like a harvesting of data just in case it might be useful, and I'm not too happy about that.''
Ailsa Beaton, director of information at the Met, said the project will cost at least £100,000 to implement.
She said: ''We have raised some concerns regarding data protection and where liability lies if this information is misused.
''We still have some concerns about the detailed human resources information they have asked for and we think individuals may be identified.''
Home Office officials said the changes will benefit forces by reducing the amount of time staff spend responding to requests for information.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6374638/Police-threaten-to-withhold-crime-data.html
