Tim Turner on 20 May 2004 at 09:14 said:-
> I think "obstructive" is a subjective word. I'd substitute
> another, equally subjective one: "practical". If we search in
> properly structured files for information which really
> concerns a person, and not for every passing reference to
> them, we can do an efficient trawl and deliver the results
> well within the 40 day deadline.
Given that interpretation, practical only becomes obstructive when the
organisational/file structure is such that there is no practical way to
respond adequately.
Improving organisational/filing structures as a means of meeting
'unreasonable requests' should benefit organisations and their filing
systems, making them more responsive to their own needs and environment and
so turning the SAR to real organisational advantage.
Within some organisations perhaps my last ought to be viewed as more of an
interpretive fit than the proffered information regarding what the outlook
for any response is.
Ian W
> -----Original Message-----
> From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection
> issues [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Turner
> Sent: 20 May 2004 09:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: UK's Data Protection Act Might Not Meet Eur
> opean Union Standa rds
>
>
> I think "obstructive" is a subjective word. I'd substitute
> another, equally subjective one: "practical". If we search in
> properly structured files for information which really
> concerns a person, and not for every passing reference to
> them, we can do an efficient trawl and deliver the results
> well within the 40 day deadline. Managing the expectations of
> a requester isn't necessarily "obstructive", any more than
> giving in to unreasonable requests is "open and responsive".
> Admittedly, FOI opens up more data to the applicant. However,
> unstructured data is available under FOI's charging
> arrangements and is subject to a description of the data
> being provided, so I see that as a separate search, rather
> than a component of subject access.
>
> The applicant who arrives with no more than £10 and a demand
> for "everything" shouldn't automatically be given
> "everything". To be reluctant to go along with that isn't
> being obstructive, it's being practical.
>
> Tim Turner
> Data Protection Officer
> Wigan Council
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All archives of messages are stored permanently and are
available to the world wide web community at large at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/data-protection.html
If you wish to leave this list please send the command
leave data-protection to [log in to unmask]
All user commands can be found at : -
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/help/commandref.htm
(all commands go to [log in to unmask] not the list please)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|