[Osem]

IIRC the police involved deleted records they held about Huntley because they believed they would be in breach of the DPA if they were retained. The problem with laws like the DPA is that they have far reaching ramifications and the more complex they are the more there is the chance that they will be misinterpreted as was the case with Huntley. When I started my own business I presented my case for not requiring registration to the DPR office and, in view of their uncertainty, was asked if I'd like to be a test case. Laws like the DPA have very far reaching effects and it's clear (as with health & safety) that not enough is done to educate those bound by these laws in the scope of the law and their responsibilities. It's all become hugely complicated and when various groups, people and organisations are not completely clear about the rules, there's a very strong likelihood that things will go wrong and laws designed to protect people wind up having the opposite effect.