Data Protection: Prosecutions Nick Herbert To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prosecutions for (a) unauthorised computer access, (b) unauthorised modification of data, (c) obstructing the Information Commissioner, (d) unauthorised use of data, (e) other breaches of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and (f) any other breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 were brought in each year since 2000; (2) how many people convicted of (a) unauthorised computer access, (b) unauthorised modification of data, (c) obstructing the Information Commissioner, (d) unauthorised use of data, (e) any other breaches of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and (f) any other breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 received (i) a fine, (ii) a community sentence, (iii) a custodial sentence and (iv) another disposal in each year since 2000. Mr. Straw Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty and a sentence breakdown for offences under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Computer Misuse Act 1990 in England & Wales from 2000 to 2006 is in the following table. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |2000 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ||Breakdown of offenders sentenced| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Absolute discharge|Conditional discharge|Fine|Community sentence|Immediate custody| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |3 |2|—|—|—|—|1| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Unauthorised modification of computer material |8 |4|1|—|1|—|3| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance|— |—|—|—|—|—|—| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |— |—|—|—|—|—|—| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |33 |24|—|3|20|1|—| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Unauthorised access to computer material |8 |9|—|3|4|2|—| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |—|—|—|—|—|—| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |—|—|—|—|—|—| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Total |52 |39|1|6|25|3|4| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | |Breakdown of offenders sentenced| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Conditional discharge |Fine|Community sentence|Fully suspended sentence|Immediate custody|Otherwise dealt with| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |4 |3 |— |—|1|—|2|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised modification of computer material |12 |19 |1 |2|9|1|5|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance|— |— |— |—|—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |— |— |— |—|—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |24 |11 |1 |10|—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access to computer material |9 |9 |1 |2|5|—|1|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |— |— |—|—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |— |— |—|—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |49 |42 |3 |14|15|1|8|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | |Breakdown of offenders sentenced| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Conditional discharge |Fine|Community sentence|Immediate custody| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |6 |5 |— |—|2|3| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised modification of computer material |8 |7 |— |2|2|2| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance|— |— |— |—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |— |— |— |—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |24 |14 |1 |13|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access to computer material |4 |2 |— |1|1|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |— |— |—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |— |— |—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |42 |28 |1 |16|5|6| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | |Breakdown of offenders sentenced| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Conditional discharge |Fine|Community sentence|Immediate custody|Otherwise dealt with| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |9 |3 |1 |1|—|1|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised modification of computer material |3 |1 |— |—|—|1|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance|— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |22 |13 |2 |10|—|—|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access to computer material |7 |1 |— |—|1|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |41 |18 |3 |11|1|2|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | |Breakdown of offenders sentenced| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Conditional discharge |Fine|Community sentence|Immediate custody|Otherwise dealt with| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |6 |2 |— |—|1|1|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised modification of computer material |10 |7 |1 |2|3|—|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance|4 |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |19 |10 |2 |8|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access to computer material |5 |3 |1 |—|1|—|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |44 |22 |4 |10|5|1|2| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | |Breakdown of offenders sentenced| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Conditional discharge |Fine|Community sentence|Fully suspended sentence|Immediate custody| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |11 |7 |3 |—|4|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised modification of computer material |8 |5 |— |2|1|1|2| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance|3 |3 |— |3|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |7 |6 |— |6|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access to computer material |5 |4 |1 |3|—|—|1| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |34 |25 |4 |14|5|1|3| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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| | | |Breakdown of offenders sentenced| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Offence |Proceeded against|Found guilty|Conditional discharge |Fine|Community sentence|Fully suspended sentence|Immediate custody| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences |5 |4 |— |—|1|—|3| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised modification of computer material |13 |10 |1 |—|3|4|1| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Person obstructing the Information Commissioner in the course of his inspection or failing without reasonable excuse to give him any reasonable assistance |2 |— |— |—|—|—|—| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |3 |2 |— |1|1|—|—| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Triable Either Way Offences1 |18 |4 |— |4|—|—|—| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Unauthorised access to computer material |7 |4 |— |3|1|—|—| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Intentional obstruction of person in execution of duty, failure to give assistance |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Using data for unauthorised purpose; disclosing data to unauthorised person etc.—Summary Offences |— |— |— |—|—|—|—| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |48 |24 |1 |8|6|4|4| 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|1 One offence superceded the other—the offence descriptors are identical. These Triable Either Way offences cover all sections of the 1998 Data Protection Act except S54A and Sch. 9 P.12. 2 These data are on the principal offence basis. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 4 The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed those proceeded against as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year, or the defendants was found guilty for a different offence to the original offence proceeded against. 5 The number of defendants sentenced in a particular year may exceed those found guilty, as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty and committed for sentence at the Crown court may be sentenced in the following year.| | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------