The interesting element about this Undertaking is the fact that it relates
to manually held Accessible Records.
C
From: ICO Press Office [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 18 January 2010 13:25
To: Sarah Skinner
Cc: ICO Press Office
Subject: Social work records found in second-hand filing cabinet
Press Release
For immediate release
18 January 2010
Social work records found in second-hand filing cabinet
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has found Lancashire County
Council in breach of the Data Protection Act after social work records
containing sensitive personal data relating to several individuals were
found in a filing cabinet purchased second-hand by a member of the public.
The records were duplicates of documents held in the council's offices and
had apparently been used by a social worker during active casework duties.
The files contained an extensive amount of personal data including
information about the ethnicity, religious beliefs and physical or mental
health conditions of individuals. In one instance, the data provided an
almost complete picture of the individual's life.
Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council, Ged Fitzgerald, has now signed
an Undertaking promising to implement a formal written procedure for the
removal or disposal of any office furniture or equipment. The Undertaking
also requires staff to be made aware of the council's policies for the
storage, use and disposal of personal information and for the appropriate
training to be provided.
Sally-anne Poole, Head of Enforcement at the ICO, said: "This incident
highlights the importance of having the necessary safeguards in place to
ensure personal information is disposed of securely. Organisations need to
have the appropriate policies in place and staff need to be aware of these
policies to ensure personal information is stored securely. I am pleased
that Lancashire County Council is taking action to prevent a similar
situation occurring in the future."
A full copy of the Undertaking can be viewed here:
http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection/enforcement.aspx
ENDS
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