The Data Protection Act 1998 came into force in March 2000 and number of 'transitional relief’ arrangements were included in the legislation.
These arrangements provided a set period of time for data controllers to bring their personal information handling practices and records fully in line with the 1998 Act. The purpose of this was to ensure a smooth transition from the original requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984 to the additional requirements of the 1998 Act.

There is one remaining transitional relief arrangement, which relates to certain manual (non-digitised) records created before 24 October 1998, including those held in structured
manual filing systems. At the moment a data controller who processes such data is not bound by most of the requirements of the first five principles of the 1998 Act and the general right to go to court to correct inaccurate personal information.

All other transitional relief periods have already expired.

At midnight on 23 October 2007 the final transitional relief period will expire. From 24 October this year the Data Protection Act 1998 will apply in full to all personal
information covered by the Act and data controllers will need to ensure that the way personal information is processed is compliant with all the provisions of the Act.

Individuals will also have full rights to go to court to rectify any inaccurate information about them before 24 October 1998 under Section 14 of the Act.

The Act does not require that data controllers digitise or computerise old manual records.