Social workers fret over Welsh database

The British Association of Social Workers has warned Welsh local
authorities they will breach client confidentiality if they sign up
to an antisocial behaviour database.

BASW Wales officer Gordon Jones said it would be wrong for social
workers to put information onto a database they had no control over
and that other agencies could access.

The Home Office and Welsh assembly database known as Project Dragon
will provide police, fire, probation, housing and social services
with a secure site to record perpetrators of antisocial behaviour.
The information will be plotted on local area maps once it goes
live in April.

Jones said: “When we share information at the moment there are very
strict controls over how it is used.

“There is a danger you could stigmatise individuals and communities
and people could be the target of special attention by agencies,”
he added.

An assembly spokesperson said the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
allowed information to be shared in the interests of reducing
crime. Many organisations are concerned signing up to it could lead
to increased workloads.

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