Fourth accountancy firm prosecuted by ICO

The Information Commissioners Officer (ICO) has prosecuted a Middlesex accountant for offences under the data protection act. The latest filing brings the total of accountancy firms taken to court by the ICO this year to four.

The Information Commissioner has prosecuted Mr Satish Lakhani of Lake & Co Accountants based in Harrow for failing to notify, a form of registration, with the ICO. All organisations that process individuals' person information must notify with the Commissioner.

Despite repeated reminders Mr Lakhani failed to register with the Commissioner for a nominal annual fee of £35.

Mick Gorrill, assistant commissioner at the ICO, said: 'The Data Protection Act gives us all important rights, ensuring that organisations process and protect our personal information properly. Notifying as a data controller under the Data Protection Act is an important obligation for any organisation which processes personal information.'

'Today's case is the fourth accountancy firm that we have prosecuted this year alone' he added.

Mr Lakhani was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £483.40 plus a victim surcharge of £15 at Harrow Magistrates Court.

Accountancy Age revealed in 2005 that the ICO was targeting a potential 10,000 accounting firms that had not registered with the Information Commissioner's Office.

Further reading:

Accountant prosecuted over data protection