OLD CRIME RECORDS 'MUST BE DELETED'

The Information Commissioner instructed the forces to erase four people's records from the Police National Computer after concluding that keeping the files breached data protection rules.

One record held by Humberside Police related to the theft of a packet of meat worth 99p in 1984, when the person was 16.

The people on whom police were storing the criminal records complained to the commissioner, Richard Thomas, after their history showed up in Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks when they applied for jobs.

A spokesman said: "The Information Commissioner's Office is concerned that the old conviction information is held contrary to the principles of the Data Protection Act because the information is no longer relevant and is excessive for policing purposes. Personal data processed for any purpose should be adequate, relevant and not excessive, and should not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose."

Mr Thomas has now issued enforcement notices requiring Humberside, Northumbria, Staffordshire and West Midlands forces to delete the records. The forces are appealing each case to the Information Tribunal, which means the files will not be deleted until a final decision is reached.

One of the applicants, John Webb, 45, from Hull, now runs a successful business and was in the Army for 20 years. When he applied for clearance to work with children, a minor conviction surfaced from West Midlands Police records dated 1978 - when he was 16.

He admitted attempted theft and minor criminal damage of a fairground slot machine, relating to the use of metal discs cut to the size of 1p and 10p pieces. He was fined £25.

"On receiving this CRB disclosure I felt surprise, shock, horror and disgust at my being portrayed as convicted of attempted theft and criminal damage. I had no idea that this incident would have come to light after such a long period of time," Mr Webb said.

"Although I accept what happened in the incident was wrong, I consider that by today's standards what I did would be considered more of a juvenile prank. I think it is unfair that this information is retained and also that there is no relevance in keeping it."