Facts and figures

• The Home Office estimates that identity theft costs the UK economy £1.7 billion.

• The British Crime Survey revealed that 2% of adults have had their identity stolen in the past year.

• Confidential material is protected by the Data Protection Act. If convicted in a magistrate's court, a penalty of £5000 could be imposed for a breach of the Act.

•  BSIA members shred 200,000 tonnes of confidential material each year.