A FORMER policeman who spent 27 years building up a bailiffs business says he will lose everything just because he didn't comply with a bit of red tape.

Stanley Chrichton believes a bureaucratic blunder could crumble his debt recovery empire, taking with it 50 Bromley jobs - all because he failed to register them with the Data Protection Registrar.

The businesses - Chrich-ton's Ltd, Chrichton's Debt Recovery and Chrichton's Partnership based at the old police station in St Mary Cray High Street - hold confidential information on literally millions of people.

In Bromley magistrates court, Mr Chrichton pleaded guilty to charges of not registering two of the businesses, but a £1,573 fine, and a reprimand from magistrates for wasting court time are the least of his worries.

He said: "The bailiffs' business is highly competitive. Reputation is all. People will read this conviction as though my businesses are not up to scratch.

"I don't think people realise the effect this has. There are massive companies who do not realise they are not registered. This is the end for me."

Mr Chrichton was only caught when his staff caught up with a man who had not paid his poll tax.

The begrudging tax payer got on to the DPR which sparked an investigation in November 1997.

Prosecuting Angus Hamilton said the law relied on people registering so principles of good practice could be properly enforced and the public protected.

Defence solicitor Owen Davies said: "Mr Chrichton has operated a respectable business since the 1970s. He is a former policeman who takes his responsibilities extremely seriously.

"It was a simple mistake."

Mr Davies pleaded with magistrates to consider the devastating effect the court appearance will have on his client, and his 50 employees who could now lose their jobs, as punishment enough.

He said: "Mr Chrichton fears he will lose vital contacts, and his business - currently running at a loss - will go to the wall."

Outside court, Mr Chrichton told the News Shopper: "It's a ridiculous law that has not been enforced properly."

DPR spokesman Carol Hufton admitted it had limited powers of enforcement and most prosecutions result from individual complaints, but said: "We have a limited budget and we do the best we can."

A new Data Protection Act was passed by Parliament last week. Now people can be prosecuted for misuse of information before they are registered. If your business needs to register call 01625 545745.

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