Following a run-in with the DTI over export schemes, the Channel Four political satirist Mark Thomas put in a standard ’subject access’ request to the DTI and received a batch of more or less abusive emails revealing officials had attempted to “starve him of information”.Under the 1998 Act, which came into force in March 2000, anyone seeking to request an organisation to disclose any personal information held on them can do so, although ‘data controllers’ are entitled to charge a fee of up to 10 pounds for the information. 

Lack of leadership, sometimes at the top of forces, but more frequently at the basic command unit level is limiting progress to better community and race relations. This is the conclusion from three reports published by the Home Office. Nearly all the 43 police forces have community and race relation strategies, or are developing a strategy, but the existence of the document does not necessarily lead to change. 

Brown K, Ryan N, Parker RThe International Journal of Public Sector Management, (UK), 2000 Vol 13 No 3
Start page: 206. No of pages: 16
Offers four case studies to illustrate the effect of the adoption of commercial principles by public sector agencies in Australia.