Justice Committee recommends custodial penalty for data theft

A report by the Justice Select Committee, published on 27 October, states that the MPs agree with the Information Commissioner Christopher Graham, who in his oral evidence told the Committee that the issue of custodial sentences for section 55 offences is not exclusively, or even primarily, an issue relating to the media.

The MPs say that that the issue should be dealt with by Parliament without waiting for the outcome of the Leveson inquiry into phone hacking and media standards. In a letter dated 22 October, Minister of State, Lord Mc Nally, says that the Ministry of Justice is keen to find out what the Leveson Inquiry recommends before deciding what action to take.

Read more about this topic in the next issue of PL&B UK Report.