Press watchdog the Press Complaints Commission is set to improve awareness on the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

There is widespread concern over what it actually means to journalists, statutory bodies and the police.

And some fear that police forces might be using it to restrict the information they hand out to the press.

Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer has announced he is looking at ways to raise awareness about the Act.

He told journalists the Commission’s headquarters in London: “Touring the country and talking to editors, I hear a lot of concern about the manner in which some public authorities have restrictively interpreted the act in a way which only makes the journalists’ job more difficult.

“That has been thrown into sharp focus recently. But if there is going to be a review about how the act is used by public authorities, it is only right that we do what we can to educate journalists about how the Act might relate to them.

“It is not a straightforward piece of legislation, and there seems to be some confusion about the extent of the journalistic exemption and the rules on obtaining personal data.”

Sir Christopher said that the PCC – in consultation with the industry – could produce a guidance note on the subject.

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