Police in the UK have a long history of misusing our personal data: for example, the ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry is investigating allegations of misconduct by undercover police units, and another investigation found seven Metropolitan Police officers guilty of gross misconduct for accessing the personal data ofthe murdered Sarah Everard.
The government’s lesson learned from years of abusive police snooping? Apparently, to give the police more powers,and ensure that they cannot be held accountable for breaking the law. The prior government had tried to do the same thing, but MPs, peers and civil society groups (including RSI) pushed back on the proposal for increased surveillance powers for police. However, instead of listening to these concerns, this government has simply reintroduced the same provisions that Parliament refused to pass when they were in the Data
Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill (DPDIB) – the piece of legislation that the prior government tried to pass in 2023-2024. Neither government has ever shown that these powers are necessary – and if so, for what.
Especially without a showing of necessity, these powers would violate the Human Rights Act and be ripe for a legal challenge.
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