The ICO has told the Police and the wider criminal justice sector to bring the practice of collecting excessive amounts of personal information from the victims of rape and serious sexual assaults to an immediate stop. In its report published on 31 May titled, Who's Under Investigation?, the ICO shares its opinion, including 5 recommendations on how the police and prosecution services can use personal data belonging to sexual assault victims in compliance with UK data protection laws.
In publishing the report, Information Commissioner said, "Our investigation reveals an upsetting picture of how victims of rape and serious sexual assault feel treated. Victims are being treated as suspects, and people feel re-victimised by a system they expect to support them. Change is required to rebuild trust that will enable more victims to seek the justice to which they're entitled."
The Guardian interviewed several victims campaigners across the UK; Claire Waxman, the victims' commissioner for London, said: "the justice system is asking too much of rape victims and denying them justice … I am yet to see a case where primary school records or counselling notes hold any relevant information, yet these requests are regularly made."
Related articles about police use of digital strip searches include:
- Police conducting digital strip searches at UK borders
- Police to lose 'digital strip searches' powers of rape victims
- Police and CPS cease using mobile phone consent forms in rape cases
- ICO Statement about digital consent forms
- ICO publishes findings on mobile phone extraction by police
- Phone seizures in rape investigation to be reviewed
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