UPDATED: 3.00PM The Privacy Commissioner has concerns about the accessibility of personal details within our intelligence services.

A report from Inspector General of Intelligence and Security Cheryl Gwyn released yesterday revealed around 60 staff have access to sensitive details used for security clearances, including details of people's alcohol and drug use -- and their sexual behaviour.

The investigation highly critical of the checks around access to the information, with a string of recommendations ordered -- including tightened security.

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Ms Gwyn said said the spy agency's systems were so loose, there was a risk foreign spies would try and access the information and use it to compromise Kiwis with high-level security clearances.

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United Future Leader Peter Dunne is horrified.

He said it's utterly reprehensible for vetting material to have gone into a data pool that could be used by the SIS for any purpose.

"They've read too many spy novels and they believe the propaganda. I think what we're starting to see now is more and more revelations about just how arrogant they've been, how out of touch with community perception they've been, and the way they've treated people's data and abused it."

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards said: "There's no need for so many people in the organisation to have such wide access."

The information is collected by the SIS as part of its inquiries into people needing security clearances for government work, including in the intelligence community.

But Mr Edwards said the public has an expectation that personal details given to intelligence services, will be protected. He said thousands of people consent to be vetted in order to get their jobs.

"They have an expectation that the information gathered during that very intrusive process will only be used for that purpose."

Labour Leader Andrew Little's taking a wait-and-see approach on the SIS and pledges it will improve its handling of security vetting information.

Mr Little said the SIS has had a bit of a regime change at the top and there's a new drive to meet the demands it faces.

"Let's wait and see I'm not close enough to know them to know if they will fulfill that but they've identified do have to make a change. That's a good start, let's see how they go on."