Accidentally faxing the details of a convict to a Harrow tile and flooring shop was a huge mistake.
This was the third time in two or three months the business had received a secret police document.
And although those responsible now know about the problem and have taken measures to stop it happening again, there are a couple of factors which compounded the error.
It all started when someone at Edmonton police station, in north London, sloppily typed in a wrong number,sending the fax awry.
Readers will be surprised that, given the sensitivity of the information, more care was not taken in transmitting it.
Secondly,it does not appear there was any kind of 'secure' fax line into Harrow Crown Court through which confidential printouts could be sent.
Also, the police apparently never telephoned the court to check the document had arrived - an action which could have revealed that it had been sent to Sagar Ceramics and not the intended recipient, the court's police liaison officer.
The case also highlights poor dissemination of information within the justice system, since, unlike officers in Harrow,Brent and Hillingdon, police in Enfield borough never knew that the fax was unnecessary because the police liaison officer can print his own copy.
If those involved do not learn their lesson,the next time a similar blunder happens, it could have real legal repercussions.
Little triumph
PEOPLE power appears to have sown the seed of doubt with supermarket giant Tesco.
A thorough campaign led by the Harrow Civic Residents' Association has helped persuade the retail chain to withdraw its plans to extend the Station Road store. This shows that when it comes to community action, every little helps.
