British consumers not confident of data protection

Date: 6th October 2008

Most British consumers are not entirely confident that the businesses they deal with take necessary data protection steps.

Research conducted to coincide with National Identity Fraud Prevention week also revealed that 75 per cent of business employees thought their company could do more in the way of data protection.

Identity fraud costs the UK economy over £1 billion every year, and one expert believes that it is up the country's small businesses to ensure better data protection.

The BBC's Adrian Chiles, who formerly presented Working Lunch, said: "Britain's businesses have come a long way in protecting employees and customers from identity fraud.

"Yet, while many have introduced stringent identity fraud prevention policies, more than a fifth of businesses in the UK still don't have comprehensive strategies in place."

Mr Chiles will be fronting this year's campaign, which is also supported by a number of other organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Retail Consortium.

Businesses have until October 31st to the file their paper self-assessment tax return.