UK investigators told to stop mass collection of personal data in rape cases

Information commissioner says indiscriminate gathering of details is undermining trust in justice system

Police and prosecutors have been told to stop the mass collection of personal information from rape victims or face being fined by the UK's data watchdog.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said they must immediately stop getting complainants in rape and serious sexual offence cases to sign forms, known in England and Wales as Stafford statements, which give officers general consent to obtain often highly sensitive third-party materials, including medical, education and counselling records.