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Civil liberties: In brief

01 November 1992

No more leaks: The Dutch cabinet has decided that civil servants are no longer allowed to have background conversations with journalists on subjects on which ministers still have to make a decision. Once a decision has been made, only the public relations offices are allowed to give clarifying statements. The administrative heads of the departments have been asked to see to it that leaks will no longer occur and that breaches of confidentiality are investigated.

Government Data Network: in answer to a question in the House of Commons the government said that 16 departments have been authorised to exchange personal data through the computerised Government Data Network (GDN), and 29 departments have access agreements with Racal Data Networks who run the GDN. Commons Hansard 9.6.92.

ID cards to "assist crime fight": Ron Hadfield, Chief Constable of West Midlands and vice-chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers' international affairs committee, told a conference in London that mandatory national identity cards should be introduced throughout the EC to combat potential increases in terrorism, drug trafficking and criminal activities after the abolition of border controls next year. The cards, he added, should incorporate the persons's fingerprints and photograph. Independent 16.10.92.