Information Commissioner wants more powers

Thomas: government departments should produce privacy impact statements

The Information Commissioner is today expected to demand more powers to ensure citizens' personal data is protected from abuse.

Addressing the Commons Home Affairs select committee this morning, Richard Thomas is to call for a series of new measures including:

* mandatory privacy impact statements for government departments introducing surveillance systems of any kind

* additional powers for the Information Commission to inspect and audit organisations to ensure they comply with data protection law

* stricter penalties for organisations breaking the data protection act.

Thomas warned last year that the UK is in danger of 'sleepwalking into a surveillance society'. Advances in technology, including online services and joined-up government, are increasing the electronic footprint left by citizens, he says.