SOUTH WALES POLICE SECURITY BREACHES SHOWS VULNERABILITY OF PERSONAL DATA

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Jul 2009

Commenting on the discovery by BBC Wales that there have been 10 incidents of unauthorised access to information held by South Wales Police (SWP) in the last three years, three of which were by SWP staff, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said:

"This shows just how vulnerable personal information held on databases is, even when they are held by the police.

"In the same week that the News of the World has been accused of using illegal methods to gain access to people's most intimate information, this is another reminder of loopholes in the security surrounding private information.

"Police databases hold extremely sensitive personal information, which can be massively damaging if made public. The fact that Police staff have admitted accessing this information illegitimately is extremely worrying.

"It is particularly worrying that South Wales Police were so reluctant to release this information. The public has a right to know whether their information is safe and secure."