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AIBU?

To think the police should not be publishing the names and addresses of young people on the internet

8 replies

PizzaFuck · 17/10/2012 18:36

My local police force submitted themselves for a 'Tilley Award' www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/partnerships/tilley-awards/

Apparently this is for 'innovative crime-fighting projects'.

Their submission, which is published online, says that they created a spreadsheet with details of who had been spoken to, and why. This spreadsheet is included with their submission, and includes the actual names and addresses of various young people who had been stopped by the police.

e.g.,
Name Age Address Notes
"John Doe" "13" "1 Firtrees, Anytown" "Cannabis found"
"Mary Magdalen" "12" "2 High Street, Anytown" "Eyes glazed"

This has obviously been on the internet for a few years as the document dates from 2003, and most but not all are now adults.

I was able to track a few of these people down on Facebook in less than 30 seconds using their names and towns (some have since moved), and a potential employer might be able to do the same.

It seems to me that this is criminal, on the part of the police (disclaimer: I am not an expert on Data Protection legislation), in not anonymising these data before submitting it, and they (the police) should be made an example of.

AIBU?

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TheDarkestNight · 17/10/2012 18:45

YANBU - why is it that young people are deemed guilty until proven innocent?

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BoffinMum · 17/10/2012 19:33

It's called a Data Breach in the trade, I believe. Silly Rozzas.

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DozyDuck · 17/10/2012 19:36

That's terrible! Yes I know they are doing the wrong thing blah blah but what if they are 'looked after' children...or we're when they were younger, and their families find them?

I'm sure it doesn't say 'joe blogs, watched his mum shoot up till he was 13 when she died and has now turned to drugs himself'

Idiots.

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Solopower1 · 17/10/2012 19:57

YANBU -That's terrible. Is there anything we can do about it, do you know?

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jammiecat · 17/10/2012 20:13

The Information Commissioner's Office deals with data protection so you should be able to report it. See www.ico.gov.uk/ for more information.

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LineRunner · 17/10/2012 20:15

That's terrible.

Another vote for alerting the Information Commissioner.

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SilverCharm · 17/10/2012 20:17

Omg!!! YANBU!

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PizzaFuck · 17/10/2012 20:31

Is it actually criminal?

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