How does the data protection act fit into the Protection of Freedoms Bill?

Regarding the possibility of the British Parking Association (BPA), or any other organisation, obtaining permission from the Government to have access to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, prompts me to ask; where does the Data Protection Act (DPA), fit in to this request? Would this require BPA and others to seek permission from every individual prior to making such a request? I am not sure I agree with your legal advisors idea / response to BH. To accept a fee would be giving tacit approval of what as you say is an outrageous proposal. If the Government were to approve this request, where will it end and will the DPA need to be repealed? Does the BPA make contributions to any political party's funds?

Asked on 21 March 2011 by CG, Abingdon

Answered by Honest John

The BPA already has access to keeper details and has for many years. This exemption is explained in the leaflet that comes with a car's V5C registration document. To my mind, if government is to allow this, they might as well tear up the Data Protection Act as far as it refers to car keepership details. But instead of that the BPA hopes to get a vague and sneaky clause of the Protection of Freedoms Bill passed making vehicle keepers directly responsible for unspecified private parking contraventions. This is Section 2, Clause 56 and reads,

“56 Recovery of unpaid parking charges: Schedule 4 (which makes provision for the recovery of unpaid parking charges from the keeper of a vehicle in cases where it is not known who was driving the vehicle when the charges were incurred) has effect.”

It’s a license to exploit. So you better get onto your MP pretty double quick to ask him to make sure this is amended.

Tags: protection of freedoms bill car parking data protection act

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