> I'm posting this on both the FOI and DP lists because it crosses over the
> two. Many will get two copies and I hope you'll delete one and not both.
>
> I think this is more an example of bad proof-reading than a breach of the
> DPA, but it's nevertheless evidence that if the Commissioner criticises
> mistakes of others, he should be aware that his office isn't immune. The
> Commissioner's practice is to remove the names of applicants in FOI
> decisions when he publishes them. I think this is unnecessary in most
> cases - I wouldn't mind if they left my name on the decision notices where
> I was the applicant. Nevertheless, that's his practice - but if you look
> at one of the most recent decisions involving the Department of
> Constitutional Affairs, you'll find the name of the applicant left in on 3
> or 4 occasions. Presumably, somebody proof-reads all of the decision
> notices, but to be honest, there are often typos and mistakes which are
> clearly the result of an edit or change that affects the rest of the
> sentence. Everybody does these kinds of things, but official notices ought
> to be subject to a higher standard of checking - especially if personal
> data might be disclosed.
>
> Now, the thing that concerns me is that if another organisation made the
> mistake of publishing a person's name without their consent and when they
> had not been informed that this would happen, the ICO would probably have
> stern words for them. Do they tell themselves off in a case like this?
>
Tim Turner
Data Protection / FOI Officer
Legal and Property Services
Wigan Council
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