A number of charities have been fined - albeit rather lightly when compared to commercial businesses - for breaching the Data Protection Act.

Many charities seem to think that they are immune from certain sections of the law purely because they are charities and any method that increases funds is acceptable - legal or illegal.

But while fundraisers and senior managers who sanctioned this form of wealth profiling and trading of data will need to be punished by the organisations there is the question of ultimate responsibility lying with the trustees.

The Charity Commission is now to launch their investigation into the charities to see if trustees have failed in their responsibilities and need to be dealt with, but we also know that the CC is toothless and rarely takes action against any trustee, particularly, against trustees of large national charities.

 The Information Commissioners Office has taken the view that punishment is needed in these circumstantiates and the question is will the Charity Commission also take reasonability and deal effectively with a failure oif oversight by the trustees or will it just fade into the background once again after having a quite drink and chat to the trustees and letting everything carry on as normal?