Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that police forces consult data protection officers on new projects involving the use of new technologies for processing personal data.

Data protection legislation requires police forces to appoint a Data Protection Officer to monitor internal compliance and provide advice on data protection obligations. This includes providing advice on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), required by law before data controllers (including police forces) begin any type of processing likely to result in a high risk to personal data. This will often include the use of new technologies for processing personal data.

Where processing is likely to result in high risk, data protection legislation also requires a police force consult with the supervisory authority – the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The Home Office works closely with various law enforcement agencies such as the National Police Chief Council and the College of Policing who are responsible for guidance for the police forces within the United Kingdom.