There are many benefits to a clean or clear desk policy, and a clear desk is one of the most common recommendations of our data protection audits.

In relation to data protection, of course, we are concerned with leaving important or sensitive data on display - this is a technical data breach that compromises the confidentiality of data.

An example of where a clear desk policy would have prevented problems would be a teacher who leaves marked exam papers on the class desk, only to find them missing the following day. This is a real-life example that we reported to the ICO.

The over-riding principle of the clear desk policy is "Documents/files and other media that include sensitive information, or those classified as confidential, shall be secured/locked away whenever they are not in use."

Alongside embedding a data protection mindset, other advantages of a clear desk policy include:

• improved work environment
• increased efficiency
• better appearance
• increased productivity
• organisation: knowing what data you have and where it is

One of our key messages is to treat other people's data as if it is your own. Always ask yourself if you would like your personal data casually dispersed on someone else's desk.