It is wrong to report that people will face jail for reckless data breaches, (Lose data and you go to jail).

The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act, which gained royal assent earlier this month, does introduce tough new sanctions for breaches of the Data Protection Act, granting the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) the power to fine organisations for serious and reckless breaches of the Act.

This change in the law sends a very clear signal that data protection must be a priority and that it is completely unacceptable to be cavalier with people's   personal information.

Another clause in the new Act allows the Justice Secretary to introduce prison sentences for the separate offence of illegally buying and selling personal information if the black market exposed by the ICO continues.

This threat creates a  powerful deterrent to those tempted to engage in this  illegal practice.

The ICO has repeatedly called for more effective sanctions against organisations that fail to live up to their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, and we welcome the tougher sanctions.

David Smith, Information  Commissioner's Office