Police access to test-and-trace data is another blow to dwindling public trust in the government

The system relies on people getting tested for coronavirus – this decision makes that less likely to happen, writes Ian Hamilton

‘Confidentiality’ comes with caveats now (Getty)

If, as psychologists suggest, it takes an estimated eight truths to redeem one lie then the government sanctioning of police access to NHS test-and-trace data is going to need a lot of work to recover from such a betrayal of trust. 

In selling the virtues of those in England handing over personal information to the government we were assured that this would be confidential. That of course should be a given and not need the emphasis it was given when the system was introduced. 

Now we know there are caveats to “confidentiality”, your personal information will potentially no longer be confidential if you have to self-isolate.