IN AN age when identity fraud is the fastest growing crime on the planet it is odd that our councils could have potentially been helping hackers.
That wasn't the idea when Barnsley Council published applicants' names, addresses, phone numbers and signatures on planning applications on their internet site.
They were surely wanting to be open and transparent in their dealings.
But open and
transparent can equal open and vulnerable to internet fraud.
We should be making it more difficult, not easier. To their credit Sheffield has blacked out signatures on planning documents and Rotherham and Barnsley councils have taken similar action while they review procedures.
There are public information issues and councils are right to want planning dealings out in the open.
But individual privacy and security must be respected and not put at risk.
New 999 procedures too late for JamieNOTHING will bring back the life of South Yorkshire teenager Jamie Hatfield.
His death was described as "an absolute waste of a young man's life" by an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigating how he fell 23ft into a garage yard.
It was eight hours before his body was discovered because 999 call handlers sent police to the wrong location.
The commission ordered officers and and operators be disciplined, though no-one has been sacked.
Confidence in public services is essential and on this occasion our trust was betrayed.
Discipline and new training programmes is the least we should expect.
But they won't bring Jamie back.
Summer gone sour?FANCY a gin and tonic? Better go easy on the lemon.
Apparently there's a lemon shortage and a slice will soon be a luxury.
No petrol in your tank, no lemon in your favourite tipple... is this going to be the most miserable summer ever?
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