The Data Protection Act 1998 aims to promote high standards in the handling of personal information, and to protect the individual's right to privacy.
The Act applies to anyone holding information about living individuals in electronic format and in some cases on paper.
What is data protection?
Data protection laws protect your privacy and ensure that your personal data is processed fairly and lawfully.
Personal data is information that can identify you, such as your name and address. It can also cover other information the Council may hold about you, such as benefits information.
Anyone holding personal information must follow the eight data protection principles of good information handling, where personal information must be:
- Fairly and lawfully processed
- Processed for specified purposes
- Adequate, relevant and not excessive
- Accurate, and where necessary, kept up to date
- Not kept for longer than is necessary
- Processed in line with the rights of the individual
- Kept secure
- Not transferred to countries outside the European Economic Area unless there is adequate protection for the information.
Why does the Council hold information about you?
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, Maldon District Council is a data controller registered with the Information Commissioner. This means we may collect and process information about you so that we can provide you with services you require, and maintain records of services we provide.
We have to keep your personal data safe and secure. We do not share it with anybody else without your knowledge, unless we are required by law to do so.
How can I access information about me?
If you would like to see information you think we hold about you, please complete a Subject Access Request Form, available from the Download Area.
You will need to print the form, fill in and sign it and send it to us with two pieces of identification and a fee of £10.
Further guidance is available from the Download Area.
What identification will I need to send you?
We require two original pieces of documentation, for example, a recent utility bill, bank statement (photocopies are not acceptable) showing your name and address.
In some cases additional details such as a passport or photo ID driving licence may be required due to the sensitive nature of information held.
When will the Council get back to me?
Once we have received your request, identification and fee, we must respond within 40 days.
Further Information
For more information on Data Protection, please fill in our online Contact the Data Protection Officer e-form, or telephone 01621 854477.
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