The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Kent police in breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA) following the theft of documents containing personal information. The ICO investigation concluded that the policies for the transportation and storage of documents by Kent police force were unsatisfactory. The Chief Constable has signed an undertaking in connection with the problem.

The action came after the data was stolen from the boot of a police officer’s car which was parked overnight at a residential address. A member of the public found the documents and handed them in to a nearby police station. The officer who has the responsibility for safekeeping the papers had no access to safe storage at home and had not used his secure briefcase.