Oyster data fights crime

The Oyster card that is used widely across London by commuters is increasingly being utilised as a source of data for the police.

Figures have indicated that the rise in requests for Oyster data has increased dramatically from seven requests in 2004, to 61 requests in just January of this year.

Civil liberties groups have opposed the Oyster card that is now used by more than five million people. A spokesperson for the Met stated that the requests that have been made were a “straightforward investigative tool”.

Transport for London said: “Transport for London complies fully with the Data Protection Act. Information on individual travel is kept for a maximum of eight weeks and is only used for customer service purposes, to check charges for particular journeys or for refund inquiries.

“A very few authorised individuals can access this data and there is no bulk disclosure of personal data to third parties for any commercial purposes. There is no bulk disclosure of personal data to any law enforcement agency. If information is disclosed, it is always done so in accordance with the Data Protection Act after a case-by-case evaluation. Police requests must be made under Association of Chief Police Officers guidance.”