Another new database plan

The Home Office has announced plans to create a deaths database as part of coroners' service reforms following the Harold Shipman killings.

It is the third database scheme proposed to a public inquiry in the three weeks since Computing launched its Data Debate campaign to review the growing number of government databases.

Other proposals include the creation of a crime allegations database following the employment of Soham murderer Ian Huntley in a school, and a database of all children in the wake of the Climbie child abuse case.

The knee-jerk reaction to create another new database must be carefully thought through, says deputy Information Commissioner Jonathan Bamford.

'We need to be sure of what we want to achieve, what level of information is needed, and to make sure the scheme has the proper resources such as staff having time to update records,' he said.

The human side is crucial, says government IT expert Jim Norton.

'It is not clear how the different initiatives relate to each other, and even less clear how departments will maintain the integrity of the data and put in place the people and processes to ensure it is accurately gathered and kept,' he said.

Databases have become the all-encompassing solution to every problem, says Ian Gibson, chairman of the Commons' science and technology committee.

'It is an instant reaction, difficult to deliver, and it is questionable whether departments ever get to grips with the real problems,' he said.

Liberal Democrat IT spokesman Richard Allan says relevant information should be incorporated into existing, well-used systems.

'Databases are being seen as the solution to a whole variety of problems, when in fact most of these inquiries are revealing weaknesses in existing systems. Our priority should be getting them right, rather than creating new ones,' he said.

The Home Office says details of the deaths database are yet to be decided.