I would question whether the death of the couple could be put down to 'ignorance of the Data Protection Act'. The Act does allow information to be revealed in some circumstances (and Huntley's case is definitely one), but it also contains serious penalties for the individual who reveals information where it is not justified. That is, it is not just British Gas who breaches the act, but some hapless administrator, say Amanda Phistlethrop, their data protection officer. So poor old AP is forced to judge whether she should authorise release of information, knowing that she faces possible charges if the courts do not agree with her. It is not lack of common sense on her part not to release the information - it is self preservation. And she has no way at all of knowing the circumstances of the elderly couple: for all she knows their primary source of heating is electicity, not gas. Is it likely British Gas is going to instigate a full case study of all the pros and cons before every decision whether to cut off a gas supply?

The problem is, in my view, yet another law that has not been properly thought through, not the behaviour of British Gas.