As from 6 April 2010 the Information Commissioner will have new powers to levy fines of up to £500,000 for serious breaches of data security. If you aren't already doing so, it's time to take security shredding seriously. As usual we have lagged behind the United States in legislation protecting personal data but fines will now become more frequent and more publicised. Not just for the big high profile cases like a government minister leaving a laptop on the back seat of a car but the local doctor's surgery or dentist who throws out confidential records with their rubbish. When you consider that for less than £50 you could have a filing cabinet full of medical records shredded on-site by a mobile shredding truck ( that's 1/10,000th of the maximum fine) it's not a big decision to make. For more information on the Information Commissioner's press release, follow this link:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2010/penalties_guidance_120110.pdf

Post by: Jonathan Richardson