Data Protection Act, 1988

Penalties.

31.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £50,000.

(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Act, the court may order any data material which appears to the court to be connected with the commission of the offence to be forfeited or destroyed and any relevant data to be erased.

(3) The court shall not make an order under subsection (2) of this section in relation to data material or data where it considers that some person other than the person convicted of the offence concerned may be the owner of, or otherwise interested in, the data unless such steps as are reasonably practicable have been taken for notifying that person and giving him an opportunity to show cause why the order should not be made.

(4) Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967, shall apply in relation to an offence under this Act that is not being prosecuted summarily as if, in lieu of the penalties provided for in subsection (3) (a) of that section, there were specified therein the fine provided for in subsection (1) (a) of this section and the reference in subsection (2) (a) of the said section 13 to the penalties provided for by subsection (3) shall be construed and have effect accordingly.