Call for review of police database with names of innocent people

Call for review of police database with names of innocent people

Aamer Anwar

A Police Scotland database contains the names of more than 500,000 people despite the fact many have never committed a crime, prompting calls for a review.

Solicitor Aamer Anwar said that Chief Constable Jo Farrell should explain why so many names are on the database.

A freedom of information request found that the Scottish Intelligence Database (SID) contained the names of 508,682 adults and children – one in ten of the population. This is a 13 per cent increase in the past seven years.

The system was established 21 years ago to allow the former regional police forces and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) to share information. Over time, however, it has come to contain the names of people who have not committed any crimes.

Mr Anwar said: “There is certainly not one in ten people in Scotland involved in serious organised crime. I think the chief constable should explain why potentially every family has an intelligence file kept on them. In a democracy, police have to justify the gathering of intelligence.”

Liam Mcarthur, the Scottish Lib Dem justice spokesperson, said: “While it is important that we support the police in modernising the service, this should never come at the cost of privacy obligations and civil liberties. It is unclear how long this data is held for, which is particularly concerning in cases where people have been found not guilty in court or where no charges have been pursued.

“The full force of modern technology means it is easy for companies and public bodies to amass a huge amount of data on us in a short space of time, if given the opportunity. That’s why we need to have rules and frameworks in place to help keep us right – something which the police have already indicated they would welcome.”

Scottish Conservatives MSP Murdo Fraser commented: “I wonder how many of these 500,000-plus people know that their details are stored and, more importantly, why. Police Scotland must be up front about its criteria for retaining files on so many of our citizens, very many of whom will have no criminal record.”

Police Scotland said in a statement: “We regularly review intelligence that is retained to make sure it is appropriate and complies with the Data Protection Act 2018. Individuals have the right to access the information held about them, subject to certain restrictions, via a subject access request.”

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