The Northern Territory Police Force reached a consent agreement with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner in December 2019. This agreement was a result of an investigation into the police force`s management of personal information.
The investigation found that there were several incidents where personal information was mishandled by the police force. For example, there were instances where personal information was disclosed without proper authorisation, and where personal information was stored on unsecured portable devices.
The consent agreement outlines several actions that the Northern Territory Police Force must take to improve its management of personal information. These actions include improving its policies and procedures for handling personal information, providing training to its staff on the proper handling of personal information, and conducting regular audits to assess its compliance with privacy laws.
The agreement also requires the police force to appoint a privacy officer to oversee its compliance with privacy laws, and to engage an independent auditor to assess its compliance with the agreement.
This consent agreement is an important reminder of the importance of proper management of personal information. As more and more information is collected and stored electronically, it is essential that organisations take steps to ensure that personal information is properly handled and protected.
If you are concerned about how your personal information is being handled by an organisation, you have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The Commissioner investigates complaints of breaches of privacy laws, and can take enforcement action against organisations that fail to comply with these laws.
In conclusion, the Northern Territory Police Force`s consent agreement with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is an important step towards ensuring that personal information is properly protected. It highlights the importance of organisations having robust policies and procedures in place to manage personal information, and the need for ongoing training and monitoring to ensure compliance with privacy laws. As individuals, we also have a role to play in protecting our personal information, and can make a complaint to the Commissioner if we believe our privacy has been breached.