The Chief Constable
Northumbria Police
Headquarters
North Road
Ponteland
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE20 0BL

Dear Sir,

I was recently contacted by Xxx Xxxxxx of the Northumbria Police's
recruiting office regarding a page hosted on my website.  I found the
method taken to contact me distressing and personally embarrassing.  I
also feel that the approach itself was unwarranted.  I shall expand
briefly on what happened and follow with a number of questions for you
and your senior officers.

On Thursday 22nd of January I was called away from my normal business
and asked to contact my parents urgently.  On doing so I was told by
my father that the Northumbria Police wished to contact me, on a
particular number, but for no given reason.  This message was passed
to him by my former college at Oxford after they were contacted by Xxx
Xxxxxx directly, again without giving a reason for needing to talk to
me.  By the end of this chain, my college, parents, housemates and
colleagues were all as aware as I that the police wished to talk to me
about something.

As an immediate phone call to the supplied number wasn't answered (it
being fairly late in the day), I spent the night stewing, wondering
what was afoot.  Perhaps someone had stolen my identity and was using
my name to protect themselves or as part of a false job application.
Maybe some error had been made linking me to a criminal investigation.
Both scenarios held the promise of substantial time and effort on my
part to clear up, so it is fair to say that I, along with my family,
were becoming fraught with worry.  My housemates, colleagues and
college -- all sources of job and character references -- were also,
I'm sure, taking mental steps to reconsider my good name.

On phoning Xxx Xxxxxx the following day, I was informed that the
purpose of this frenzied effort to talk to me was to "correct some
factual inaccuracies in my website".  I immediately ended the
telephone conversation and obtained a number for a supervisor,
although attempts to contact her have failed as she seems very busy
with meetings, and I am not disposed to wait for a return call.

My website (http://the.earth.li/~alex/police_form.html) includes a
mock application form poking mild fun at the recent record of the
police on recruiting officers from ethnic minorities.  The page in
question is structured along the same lines as many other application
forms, but includes no references to any police forces, nor is it
sufficiently complete to be mistaken for a genuine form. I do not
consider it the business of any police force for free expression to be
countered with petty harassment.

While I no longer fear that I've become mixed up in the bad deeds of
others, I am most upset by the distress and worry that I and my family
were subject to.  I remain worried that my reputation has been damaged
through association in the minds of others with a police enquiry.  I
am surprised that I have been pursued with such vigour over a matter
of no substance.  I therefore ask that you answer the following
points:

Was the approach a result of an official policy and, if so, what is
the reasoning behind it?

If this was not the result of an official policy, how is it that it
came to pass?

Were any internal rules and procedures broken when obtaining my
contact details?  In particular, was any improper use of criminal
records databases made, my records searched, or any additions made to
my records held by your or other forces as a result of this event?

If official methods were used inappropriately, why was this
not prevented through the application of proper safeguards?

What steps will you be taking to ensure that incidents of this nature
do not recur?

I also ask that you consider briefing your staff to be more thoughtful
before using the name of your force in connection with investigations
which are not related to your good work in tackling crime.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Gough