by Richard Craig
15 June 2011
Members of the security and health professions are illegally passing details of accident victims to personal injury lawyers, it has been claimed.
The Claims Council, which represents 120 claims management firms, who themselves refer cases to solicitors, alleges that police and hospital staff are taking advantage of the inducements paid to individuals by some companies, sometimes to the tune of £100.
Although it is perfectly legal for private individuals to refer cases, it is not permissible for anyone charged with protecting personal data, such as security staff, police or medical professionals, to do so.
Andrew Wigmore, a spokesman for the Claims Council, told the Metro:
‘We are aware that police officers, nurses, doctors, ambulance men and women have sold details of accident victims to claims management companies.
‘Remember, for low-paid workers such as policemen and women, it is very tempting if you are offered between £50 and £100 just for personal details.’
Although they did not point to any individual cases of such behaviour, representatives of both the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Nursing and Midwifery Council insinuated that such practices were wrong.