Finding an address from the electoral register…

You can opt out of the electoral register that's available for anyone to buy.

https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/opt-out-of-the-open-register

Try some of the ancestry info that's online, that can be quite personal and recent too

I think if you opt out of the open register it will affect things like credit checks etc.

I don’t mind my data being accessible by people who need to use it. I’m not even that fussed if telemarketers get hold of it.

I do however have an issue that any random fraudster (or crazy ex) can easily access where I live.

Because its a nice money making venture and the government writes the laws? The ability to opt out is only 20 years old or so. It was a change forced by the courts that a choice had to be given.
As crossed says you can opt out of the completely open version. Although its still available to credit agencies, political parties and some government use. It may also be available in the local library (I know in theory its an option but with the destruction of local libraries not sure how viable it is).
There is anonymous registration where its more secure still but think that needs individual justification.

So if I opt out it’ll not affect my credit rating?

I think if you opt out of the open register it will affect things like credit checks etc.

I've always opted out an its never been an issue.

I don’t mind my data being accessible by people who need to use it. I’m not even that fussed if telemarketers get hold of it.

I do however have an issue that any random fraudster (or crazy ex) can easily access where I live.

I don't really know how that can be differentiated - either information is accessible or it isnt - which do you want it to be? Remember telephone directories? They have your name and address in them unless you specifically opt out - but if you opted in - as most people did there was nothing requiring fraudsters and a crazy ex to avert their eyes and not look at the publicly available information

(the one at top of google search is 192 but I assume there are others)

192 being the number you call for directory enquiries? I'm high on nostalgia. 🙂

A friend of mine had a job back in the 90s where he stood in a phone box calling 192 all day building mailing lists for a marketing company becuase the service was free from a call box but they had to pay for the call if they called from their office 🙂

must be exercising the minds of some PSNI members - or is NI (or their profession) under different rules ?

I think if you opt out of the open register it will affect things like credit checks etc.

I’ve always opted out an its never been an issue.

+1

Is it some weird historical anomaly where anyone who is able to vote should be "visible" or in some way accountable?

It's never bothered me, but I can see why you may want to opt out.

There are two registers, the full one and the public one. The full one is used for voting-related communication (and propaganda), the public one is, well, public. You can opt out of the latter but not the former. I opted out because I get enough shite through the door as it is.

192 being the number you call for directory enquiries? I’m high on nostalgia. 🙂

192 is a company which took their name from that number. Whether it's the same people today or not I don't know, but they used to sell CD-ROM subscriptions for reverse number lookups - finding people from their phone number, which the real Directory Enquiries wouldn't let you do.

I had a run-in with them in the 1990s, they were shits. Their MO was to send you a 30-day free trial, then if you went to 31 days and tried to cancel they lawyered up. The company I worked for at the time eventually rolled over and paid for it, which was doubly annoying because it didn't actually work for what I wanted it for.

You can go to your local town hall and ask for the register. I did