178.This section enables the Commissioner to issue an enforcement notice if he is satisfied that a public authority has failed to comply with any of the requirements of Part I of the Act. The notice would require the authority to take, within a specified time, such steps as may be specified for complying with the requirements of Part I of the Act. The section contains provisions relating to appeals (comparable to those for decision notices and information notices). Again, any enforcement notice has effect subject to section 53 (Exception from duty to comply with decision notice or enforcement notice).
179.Provisions in section 52 correspond to the powers of the Commissioner under section 40 of the Data Protection Act 1998. Experience of enforcing data protection legislation suggests that the powers may be rarely needed and used only when informal procedures have failed.
Commentary on Sections Part IV: Enforcement Section 52: Enforcement notices