Upcoming Events :
Housing Seminar: Partnerships with the Public Sector – Avoiding the pitfalls
Thu 31 May 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Information commissioner urges councils to protect people's privacy
Fri 10 Feb 2012
Local authorities have been warned they could be hit with a significant fine if they do not comply with the Data Protection Act.
According to information commissioner Christopher Graham, councils have recently been working much more closely with community partners.
This, he said, means they must meet their legal obligations whenever they are sharing data.
Mr Graham stated that keeping sensitive data safe and secure is "vital", since a breach would make councils liable to pay a "sizeable" monetary penalty and put local people at risk.
The information commissioner said the disclosure of people's personal details can often have a "detrimental impact" on those who are affected.
For example, Mr Graham noted that revealing information on a person's social housing status can be "upsetting and damaging" for the individuals concerned.
He added that he is calling on the government to give his department wider compulsory audit powers to improve data protection standards in the public sector.
James Oxley, solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "With the information commissioner's ability to fine up to £500,000 for serious contraventions of the Data Protection Act, councils who are already under increased financial strain should not overlook, or treat lightly, their obligations under data protection legislation.
"Winckworth Sherwood has a dedicated specialist data protection team with considerable experience assisting both the public and private sectors on all matters relating to the Data Protection Act."
