New Revenue & Customs Chief Makes Data Security A Priority

New Revenue & Customs Chief Makes Data Security A Priority

New HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) chairman Mike Clasper has made data security a top priority on taking over the post vacated when his predecessor resigned after the department lost two discs containing 25 million child benefit records.

The new head of the tax authority set the tone in a foreword the HMRC autumn Performance Report for 2008, giving as the first of four key priorities "data security and implementing the Poynter Review recommendations".



Kieran Poynter, former chairman of accountant PricewaterhouseCoopers carried out an investigation into the data loss. He said security could not be guaranteed by technology alone and required strong management as well.

Clasper said HMRC’s Data Security Programme is working to implement all Poynter's recommendations.

"It is therefore essential that all of our colleagues know that data security is both an individual and a collective responsibility," he said.