Southwark Council breached the Data Protection Act by misplacing a computer and some papers containing 7,200 peoples’ personal information which were discovered in a skip earlier this year, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today.

A Scottish advocate breached the Data Protection Act after failing to encrypt a laptop containing sensitive personal data which was later stolen, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today.

Oliver Letwin must ensure that he keeps personal information secure or face formal enforcement action, the Information Commissioner has said. Christopher Graham today announced that the West Dorset MP’s disposal of constituency paperwork in public bins constituted a breach of the Data Protection Act.

A former gambling industry worker who unlawfully obtained and sold personal data relating to over 65,000 online bingo players has been found guilty of committing three offences under section 55 of the Data Protection Act.

The Centre for Research on Families and Relationships at the University of Edinburgh has been appointed to lead a research project on embedding information rights in the education system, Jonathan Bamford, Head of Strategic Liaison at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), announced today.

Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, today welcomed the launch of the government’s midata scheme – a voluntary partnership with businesses and consumer bodies that will give consumers access to their personal data in a portable, electronic format.

Newcastle Youth Offending Team breached the Data Protection Act by failing to encrypt a laptop containing personal data which was later stolen, the ICO said today.

University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust breached the Data Protection Act by losing patients’ medical information on two separate occasions, the ICO said today.

42% of students are concerned that personal information available about them online might affect their future employment prospects, the ICO said today, as it launched its 2011 Student Brand Ambassador campaign.

Businesses may be ‘waking up’ to their obligations under the Data Protection Act (DPA) but public confidence in how personal information is being handled continues to decline, the ICO said today.