Cabinet minister Charles Clarke has defended a government
move to give Capita staff in the Criminal Records Bureau access to
the Police National Computer.
The Home Office has put down an amendment to the Criminal Justice
Bill that would let private sector workers at the CRB directly
access the PNC.
A Home Office spokesman said the change merely meant that suitably
vetted Capita staff would be able to access the PNC directly for
the purposes of the CRB, rather than having to get a civil servant
to do it for them.
The change is linked to a clause that renders anyone improperly
disclosing information subject to a £4,000 fine or a year in
prison. Civil servants would also be in breach of the Official
Secrets Act.
Clarke said, "This will improve the efficiency of the CRB by
allowing Capita staff to access the PNC directly under strict
controls. I am in favour of anything that helps the CRB to do a
more efficient job and cuts down on bureaucracy. I do not think
this represents a major infringement of civil liberties.''