UK database blacklist of "suspicious" store clerks includes people never charged or convicted

Bugs sez,
Several large UK retail firms are due to launch a database containing details of staff who've been accused of "stealing, forgery, fraud, damaging company property or causing a loss to their employers and suppliers."

This is intended as a closed, privately-run addition to the police background checks already offered by the state-run Criminal Records Bearau.

Crucially, the new database will include details of people who, due to lack of evidence, have never been formally charged. So if someone is fired due to a grudge with their boss or wrongly suspected of an offence, they could end up blacklisted for life with no way to find this out or, if they do find out, no way to appeal.

Link (Thanks, Bugs!)

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Cory Doctorow

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