A COUNCILLOR will quiz council officers over an agreement between Dorset's local authorities, its police force and fire service to share information faster and easier - said to be the first of its kind in the country.

The question will come from Dorset and Purbeck councillor David Budd, the leader of the district council's Liberal Democrat group, at the district council's June 10 meeting on the Dorset over-arching information sharing protocol.

He says he does not remember councillors being asked to agree to this protocol - which comes in the wake of the controversy over neighbouring Poole council using anti-terrorism powers to spy on a couple wrongly suspected of having lied about living in a school's catchment area.

Among the signatories to the protocol were Purbeck council's chief executive Steve Mackenzie and Dorset's chief David Jenkins as well as David Clarke of West Dorset and Tom Grainger of Weymouth and Portland. Coun Budd is asking whether the protocol, which was signed in early May, had been reported to any of the district councillors - and when.

He wants to know just what type of information is to be shared and whether it would be purely statistical nature or whether it included sensitive personal data.

And if it does include such personal data he is asking what safeguards had been put in place to protect the rights of the individual and to ensure that not only is the information correct - but that if it is wrong it can be corrected.

Coun Budd said : "This protocol is apparently the first of its kind in the country and as a member of the county and district councils I do not recall seeing it on any agenda - and have to learn of it via the press."

He added: "The question is why weren't members consulted on such a significant issue - particularly if it involves the personal details of those they represent."

The protocol has caused campaigners nationally concern about the agreement which is said by its backers to be a bid to prevent tragedies such as the murders by Ian Huntley of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.

But critics point to the potential for incorrect information to be circulated and repeated.

The county-wide partnership has claimed: "Good practice, experience and research demonstrate that information sharing helps to improve service delivery and protect vulnerable members of the community and others.

"It also helps to achieve statutory and local initiatives designed to prevent crime and disorder, where partnerships have this focus."

And though it notes the restrictions include the common law duty of confidentiality, the human rights and data protection legislation it adds: "Sometimes you may need to disclose information without the individual knowing."