Police control of classified information

[David Hansen]

On 9 Apr 2009 at 11:28, Ian Batten wrote:

> Is ``Police SECRET'' the same as real SECRET?

I don't know, but I suspect so. I imagine these things are standardised 
across not just the public sector but also across those parts of the 
private sector that are involved in these things.

There is not a straight public/private split in this. Some sections of 
private business will deal with far more classified information than 
some sections of the public sector. Neither is it something which can 
be blamed on the Thatcher/Regan era. A crypto example from long ago is 
the British Tabulating Machine company, which made the bombes (and ISTR 
various other things like "Enigma" machines, Letchworth Enigmas is a 
term I recall from a book). While the staff didn't know what they were 
making at least some of the management presumably knew what they were 
making.


-- 
  David Hansen, Edinburgh 
 I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents 
me   
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54