Telegraph article on RIP

[Ian Mason]

On 5 Jun 2008, at 14:38, Ian Batten wrote:

> In the past, reverse DQ was done on a nod and a wink basis between  
> what you would calls bods in councils / large companies / law  
> enforcement / spooks and what you would call bods in BT / GPO.

I personally witnessed a terminal in a police station incident room  
(right next to the PNC terminal) that had direct access to BT's full  
DQ listings in use circa 1987. No requirement to prove or record any  
basis for a query, just walk up and use it. Another terminal gave  
direct access to a central database of all electoral roll listings on  
the same basis. This was a main police station for a town, but not a  
force headquarters; I can't comment whether this was available at  
smaller stations.

Ian