Lords question Information Commissioner and SOCA on money laundering database
12 October 2011
The Information Commissioner and the Serious Organised Crime Agency’s (SOCA) Director General will face questions from the House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee on Wednesday 12 October
Witnesses
Wednesday 12 October, Committee Room 3, House of Lords
At 11.00 am
- Christopher Graham, Information Commissioner
- Jonathan Bamford, Head of Strategic Liaison for the Information Commissioner's Office
- Trevor Pearce, Director General of SOCA
- Bill Peace, Deputy Director Information of SOCA
Background
The Committee has been concerned about data held by SOCA that relates to suspicious financial activity since 2009, when it reported that there were significant data protection issues surrounding the database used by SOCA.
More recently, the Committee reported in January that it remained concerned that the database didn’t comply fully with the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act.
The Information Commissioner reviewed the operation and use of the database and made recommendations to SOCA, but there have been delays in implementing the Commissioner’s recommendations. The Committee want to question both parties on progress being made.
Subjects under scrutiny will include how long data on suspicious activity should be held, who has access to the database, and whether people on the database suspected of suspicious activity are aware they are listed.