There should be a historic review of rape cases that have involved Stafford Statements within the current system and redress sought. Holding this data is stunning. Police absolutely cannot be trusted. Compensation should be awarded to all victims of this unlawful practice.
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ComputerWeekly.com
1 year agoICO calls for police to end 'excessive collection' of personal data from rape and assault victims
The UK's privacy watchdog has called for police and the crown prosecutors to "immediately stop" the practice of collecting vast amounts of sensitive personal information from victims of rape and sexual assault.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said that police are asking crime victims to consent to the disclosure of large quantities sensitive, and in some case irrelevant personal data, in breach of privacy laws.
The practice, which gives police access to victim's phone data, medical histories, social service records, notes of victims' private discussions with therapists and historic school records is deterring victims from reporting serious crimes.
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"Victims are being treated as suspects, and people feel re-victimised by a system they expect to support them," he said.
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The ICO called for police forces to end their use of "Stafford statements" - consent forms signed by victims - that give police the right to access sensitive data about them from other organisations.