Your Firm and the Data Protection Act

All businesses that keep any information on living and identifiable people must comply with the Data Protection Act. The Act applies to computerised personal information and to some structured manual records about people. All businesses using personal data must comply with the data protection principles — enforceable rules for handling personal information — and some will also have to register (or notify) that they use personal information.

This briefing covers:

• Whether you need to register.
• How you can comply with the Act.
• What circumstances are likely to trigger action by the data protection authorities.
• Some particular danger areas.