Vic: Privacy watchdog to probe latest files leak

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2005
Vic: Privacy watchdog to probe latest files leak

Victoria's privacy watchdog will investigate why the confidential police files of up
to 1,000 people were leaked.

Privacy Commissioner PAUL CHADWICK is already investigating an unrelated breach by
the Office of Police Integrity which inadvertently sent police files on more than 400
people to a northern Victorian woman.

In the latest case, a prison officer-turned-whistleblower who applied to see his file
received up to 1,000 files on others who shared his surname.

Police say preliminary inquiries indicate a worker at computer giant IBM, which conducts
audits of the police database, had emailed the information to the man.

Mr CHADWICK says the incident shows there has been an apparent serious contravention
of information privacy principles laid down in the Information Act.

Premier STEVE BRACKS has resisted calls for an independent probe into the new breach,
saying he wants a full explanation from the police chief commissioner first.

AAP RTV nl/gfr/tm/rt

KEYWORD: FILES PRIVACY (MELBOURNE)

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