Data Protection: Information Commissioner Fines Council

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) released a press release on 8 July 2010, stating that it had brought legal action against the London Borough of Barnet, West Sussex County Council and Buckinghamshire County Council for a systemic lack of staff training on how to handle personal information which resulted in the loss of sensitive personal information relating to thousands of children.

The ICO found all three councils had breached the Data Protection Act as laptops, USBs stick and paperwork were lost by council workers. The London Borough of Barnet, West Sussex County Council and Buckinghamshire County Council have given undertakings to the ICO that their staff will be made fully aware of the policies of their council for the storage and use of personal data. The London Borough of Barnet and West Sussex County Council gave an undertaking to provide appropriate training on data protection and IT security and ensure portable and mobile devices used to store and transmit personal data are encrypted.

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2010/joint_council_undertakings_080710.pdf

RT Coopers are experts in Data Protection and we conduct data protection audits. If you require further information please contact us at enquiries@rtcooperssolicitors.com  or visit http://www.rtcoopers.com/practice_dataprotection.php

© RT COOPERS, 2010. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.