Council leader Carl Minns rages at DVLA driver details allegation
ALLEGATIONS that Hull City Council has abused its access to drivers' details has been strenuously denied by its leader.
Councillor Carl Minns is fuming after the local authority appeared on a list of councils banned from accessing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) database due to misuse of information.
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Hull City Council leader Councillor Carl Minns has denied the claims.
Councils have been given the green light to use DVLA car registration records to track down owners of abandoned vehicles.
But, in breach of the rules, some have been checking up on people suspected of offences that have nothing to do with motoring.
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As a result, several councils have been banned from accessing the database.
According to an article in a national newspaper, Hull was on this list.
But Mr Minns has rebuffed the claims.
He said: "It's absolute nonsense to suggest the council has been using DVLA data to spy on people.
"We only ever use it for detecting owners of abandoned vehicles.
"If we did use it for other persons it would be a very serious matter and the police could get involved.
"It is disappointing to see this in the national press as it's fundamentally not true."
The article follows an audit of 155 of the 432 local authorities allowed to use the database, showing the DVLA's system was accessed 750 times a day in the 2009/10 financial year.
A spokeswoman for the DVLA confirmed Hull City Council is not banned but had been suspended.
She said: "Hull City Council was suspended in September 2009 for two weeks after committing an administration error.
"We carry out audits regularly and found the council hadn't filled out the inquiry and error logs correctly.
"The matter has since been addressed and the council reinstated. There have been no problems since."
Comments
by Carl Minns, Hull
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 10:01PM
“yes im sorry guys it was me. whoops”
by leaky, Market Weighton
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 9:51PM
“Why is he outraged? Because that is exactly what they have been doing and if he doesn't know I suggest that he checks with the relevant department! In June 2008 one of my vehicles was traced in this manner for apparently littering. As it was covered by commercial insurance the identity of the driver was difficult to trace and the council stated a piece of litter but did not elaborate! As a result of sausage roll gate I paid the fine as it appeared far too difficult and costly to defend! So pull the other one Minns the database has been used by Hull City Council for revenue generation and I am sure that I am not the only one! So I will be writing to you in the morning requesting a refund of the fine! Bad press for a good reason because it is true!”
by chris, hull
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 8:10PM
“kelly thanks but im employed and totally none of the rest stated all i say is look around even driving into hull past william booth house they are all outside drinking etc so everyone knows even you what hull is!”
by Ranter, Hull.
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 6:16PM
“The Lib/Dems thought nothing of betraying their own genuine supporters did they?.
What they said they stood for, was jettisoned at the first sniff of what they falsely thought would be power and influence over this goverment.
They let down many many thousands of true Liberals to cosy up to the Tories.
Clegg and the other yellow flies in Camerons oitment will soon be dumped by the Conservatives, and come the next elections, Lib/Dem supporters will remember what backstabbers they really are.
Just cant trust what a Lib/Dem says .
PS All that photo of Mr Minns needs is a minature lunar module landing on his mug.”
by Hollow Golightly, Supper at Tiffany's
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 1:31PM
“Now this article surely merits some good old fashioned investigative journalism? there could be a national scandal brewing here? We know we are being watched, counted, categorised and force fed unbalanced opinions by local councils. Come on Hull Daily Mail! Do some digging!”
by Kelly, Hull
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 12:50PM
“Chris, Hull.
And you are? druggy? criminal? drunk? unemployed?”
by chris, hull
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 12:02PM
“mike- open ur eyes mate any wonder why hull gets bad press, iv lived everyday of my life in hull and it really is a dump! druggies, criminals, drunks and unemployed people make up the nature of the place nobody to blame but the people who live here! sorry but im a realist and ask numerous people who live here and they will say the same thing!”
by Karl, Sutton
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:49AM
“Don't forget these are back stabbing libdems who will go to any measure to achieve their goal.”
by Ranter, Hull.
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:38AM
“As if The Council would do such a thing.
Its as silly as suggesting they would use cctv to spy on us, or as ludricous as saying someone from the Council considered putting microchip spies in our wheelie bins for future use.
Rest assured our Council would not consider such sneaky tricks, and do not employ sly people who would use or even suggest these underhand tactics to spy on us.
Would they?...............”
by Mike, Hull
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:09AM
“If I was Minns I'd start suing some of these Hull knockers like Channel 4 and the this national newspaper. I am fed up of us getting bad press for reasons beyond our control and if something can be done, it should be.”