"... need for routine encryption of email over the internet ... a couple of recent cases in the uk have shown the risk of sending cleartext emails."

It always makes me laugh (or is that despair?) when people put those stupid "disclaimers" on the ends of their E-Mails, trying to make out that the content is highly priviledged and confidential!
If it really is priviledged and confidential, why on earth are they sending it in plain-text over an insecure link???!!!

Here's an example I received recently, with my comments (I shouldn't have received it; it was incorrectly addressed):

> This e-mail is intended only for the above addressee.

Actually, it isn't: it's incorrectly addressed and, therefore, intended for someone other than the addressee!

It may contain privileged information.

In that case, why send it by an insecure means such as E-Mail?!
(actually, it wasn't priviliged at all; it was someone using their work E-Mail for personal correspondence!)

If you are not the addressee you must not copy, distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it. If you have received it in error please delete it and immediately notify the sender.

Aha - so now you've set me a trap: I must not use any of the information, yet you want me to notify you - I cannot do that without making use of the information!!

[the sender] is a division of [major UK High-Street Bank] plc.

So they ought to know better, and be a lot more careful!
<hr>
A Client has recently succumbed to this nonsense, so I now use the following wherever appropriate:

"This electronic message does not contain information from [myClient] Ltd or
[theirParent] plc (or both) - privileged, confidential, or otherwise.
The information came straight off the Internet, so anybody can read it.
If you are not the intended recipient; so what?!
If you have received this electronic message in error, do with it as you will."

Sadly, only about three people have actually noticed the parody!