Written question asked by Lord Marlesford (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Thursday, 11 March 2010.

Crime: Suspicious Activity Reports

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the partnership arrangement between the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for access to SOCA's ELMER database was established; for what purpose it was established; for how long the arrangement is to run; and on how many occasions the Council has accessed the database.

Answer: The partnership agreement between SOCA and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council was signed on 30 April 2008. The agreement allows an accredited financial investigator in the council's consumer fraud team within trading standards to access the ELMER database for the purpose of combating consumer fraud. Access to the database is limited to accredited financial investigators. All partnership agreements are subject to review every two years and therefore the agreement with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council will be reviewed in April 2010. The financial investigator at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has never accessed the ELMER database directly due to connectivity issues.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2532; 718 c94WA
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Access Databases Serious Organised Crime Agency Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk