Court rejects data block
Housing organisations in Scotland could be given data on sex offenders living in their areas, unless the country’s information watchdog can convince law lords that the information should not be released.
Three housing associations appealed to the Court of Session after Kevin Dunion, the Scottish Information Commissioner, agreed with Strathclyde Police it was ‘unsafe’ to release the information.
Blochairn Housing Co-operative, Craigdale Housing Association and Dunbritton Housing Association made two requests to the chief constable of Strathclyde Police to find out whether a disproportionate number of sex offenders were housed in poor areas.
On 19 May, the court disagreed with the commissioner’s argument that the statistical information could lead to identification of the sex offenders.
The commissioner must now provide new reasons for his decision otherwise the associations will be given the data. The judgement does not give a timeline for this process.
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