The ICO is committed to raising awareness of data protection and freedom of information rights, and to encouraging good practice. These are some of our most recent press and news releases:
July
04 Jul 08 - Get recognition for excellence in data protection
The Information Commissioner’s Office is encouraging organisations in the public sector to seek recognition for good data protection practices by applying for a prestigious European award which aims to increase awareness of best practice in data protection around Europe.
02 Jul 08 - ICO takes action against double-glazing cold calls
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered a double glazing company to stop making cold calls to members of the public. The action has been brought under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) following thousands of complaints from individuals to the ICO and the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
June
30 Jun 08 - ICO statement on the disclosure of MPs’ home addresses
In view of the House of Commons debate scheduled for 3 July 2008 on a Motion on MPs’ pay and allowances, the Information Commissioner considers that it would be helpful to set out his position in relation to the disclosure of MPs’ home addresses.
27 Jun 08 - ICO orders council to release contract with financial details
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered Mid Suffolk District Council to release a contract with a commercial partner, including the financial details, concerning the work to carry out repairs and maintenance at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre.
25 Jun 08 - HMRC and MOD data security breaches
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, will be taking formal enforcement action against HMRC and MOD following serious data breaches.
24 Jun 08 - ICO orders release of information relating to the second runway at Stansted
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the Department for Transport (DfT) to release information relating to the proposal for a second runway at Stansted airport, under the Environmental Information Regulations.
20 Jun 08 - Company convicted of obtaining BT customer information unlawfully
Two private investigators have today pleaded guilty to obtaining and selling personal information after illegally ‘blagging’ the personal details of a customer from BT, following a successful prosecution by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
18 Jun 08 - Snap away on sports day, says ICO
Parents wishing to capture the moment their child crosses the finish line at their school sports day should not be deterred by data protection myths. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is reminding parents that the Data Protection Act does not prevent them taking photographs of their children and friends participating in school events.
10 Jun 08 - ICO appoints new Assistant Commissioner for Northern Ireland
Aubrey McCrory has been appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in Northern Ireland.
10 Jun 08 - South Wales authorities right not to disclose school exclusions
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has upheld decisions made by three local authorities across South Wales that details relating to the number of exclusions from named schools in the region should not be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
09 Jun 08 - ICO statement on Home Affairs Committee
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, comments following the Home Affairs Committee’s call for the Government to curb unnecessary surveillance.
04 Jun 08 - ICO issues new guidance on transfer of employee information
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today published new guidance to help organisations comply with the Data Protection Act when providing information about their employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE).
03 Jun 08 - ICO calls time on unnecessary secrecy
Speaking at the 2008 FOI Live conference, Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, will call on public authorities to disclose more information proactively and eradicate unnecessary secrecy.
May
29 May 08 - The ICO’s position on the disclosure of home addresses
In most cases data protection requirements will prevent the disclosure of home addresses to third parties in response to freedom of information requests. As a general rule the ICO would not order disclosure of address information beyond the first three digits of a postcode; we take a cautious approach because there is a recognised intrusion into private life. It is not always possible to predict all possible risks and any disclosure cannot be recalled.
23 May 08 - ICO comment on disclosure of MPs’ addresses
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has released a further statement following the High Court's ruling that MPs must disclose details of their expenses.
20 May 08 - ICO comment on proposed government database
The ICO has released a statement about the proposal to create a government database which will store details of every UK citizen's phone and internet use.
16 May 08 - Comment following High Court ruling on MPs’ expenses
The ICO has released a statement following today's High Court ruling that MPs must disclose details of their second home expenses.
15 May 08 - Data protection advice for elected councillors in Wales
Following the recent local elections, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is today reminding elected councillors in Wales of their obligations under the Data Protection Act. Anne Jones, Assistant Commissioner for Wales at the ICO, has written to all local councils offering advice and assistance.
14 May 08 - New guidance on FOI for public bodies
New guidance is being published today for public authorities on how to handle requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). The booklet, 'Hints for Practitioners handling FOI and EIR requests', has been produced in collaboration between the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
12 May 08 - ICO publishes data protection officer conference findings
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published the findings of its Data Protection Officer Conference. The conference took place in March this year and was attended by data protection officers working in the public, private and third sectors all over the country. The event was extremely oversubscribed, with almost 400 individuals applying for the 120 places available.
09 May 08 - ICO welcomes new powers to fine organisations for data breaches
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act has received Royal Assent creating tough new sanctions for the privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This new legislation gives the ICO the power to impose substantial fines on organisations that deliberately or recklessly commit serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.
06 May 08 - Automated calls about debt – ICO statement
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is currently receiving large numbers of complaints about automated telephone calls referring to ‘debt reduction schemes’ or ‘government debt initiatives’.
April
28 Apr 08 - CLAE right not to disclose publicly available information
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ruled that The Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) was right to refuse a request for copies of legal guidance relating to its handling of requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA) because any information it held was already publicly available.
25 Apr 08 - Information Commissioner reminds political parties in Wales of their data protection obligations
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is urging all political parties to respect people’s privacy during the May local elections.
23 Apr 08 - ICO prosecutes North London accountant
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) yesterday successfully prosecuted a North London accountant for offences under the Data Protection Act. David Darko of Darko Consulting Ltd, was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £539.20, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15. Mr Darko must pay a total of £854.20.
23 Apr 08 - ICO prosecutes Edgware solicitor
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) yesterday successfully prosecuted an Edgware solicitor for offences under the Data Protection Act. Samuel Koranteng of Koranteng Hughes & Co was fined £150 and ordered to pay costs of £539.20, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15. Mr Koranteng must pay a total of £704.20 in fines and costs.
23 Apr 08 - Roll call of data breaches grows
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, is today reminding chief executives of the vital importance of protecting staff and customers’ personal information following an alarming number of security breaches reported to his Office in the past six months.
21 Apr 08 - ICO tells Welsh public authorities ‘DPA is not a barrier to information sharing’
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is giving a clear signal to Welsh public bodies that the Data Protection Act does not prevent information sharing, even between organisations.
15 Apr 08 - Community councils told to comply with the Data Protection Act
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is reminding community councils in Scotland of their obligations under the Data Protection Act (DPA).
14 Apr 08 - ICO invites tenders to review EU Data Protection Law
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is inviting tenders to carry out a study into the strengths and weaknesses of the EU Data Protection Law. Following increasing public awareness and concerns about the need for effective privacy safeguards and the pace of technological developments, the ICO is keen to stimulate debate on how data protection in practice can be improved. The study will help to inform this debate by examining the EU Data Protection Directive and its application and by identifying ways to improve EU law which will provide effective protection for individuals and society while minimising burdens for organisations.
04 Apr 08 - ICO comment following the release of details regarding MPs’ spending
The Information Commissioner welcomes the House of Commons’ decision to publish details of MPs’ spending under the Freedom of Information Act in line with his decision notice.
04 Apr 08 - Phorm advertising – ICO statement
The ICO has released an updated statement about the announcement that three major UK internet service providers will allow advertising technology company Phorm to present ads to their customers, based on the websites they visit.
03 Apr 08 - Department of Health must improve FOI request handling
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is demanding improvements in the way the Department of Health handles requests under the Freedom of Information Act. The Information Commissioner has used his powers under the Act and is issuing the Department with a formal practice recommendation.
03 Apr 08 - ICO statement on Section 55 offences
The Information Commissioner is pleased that the government has resisted substantial pressure to abandon clause 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.
02 Apr 08 - ICO orders more detail on MPs’ expenses to be disclosed
The Information Commissioner’s Office is ordering the House of Commons to release the spending details of seven MPs in Wales. This follows a freedom of information request for the amounts spent by the seven MPs on circulars and reports to their constituents since May 2005.
01 Apr 08 - Don’t water down penalties for blaggers stealing personal information, says Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, is today issuing a stark call to politicians to resist attempts to water down new penalties for deliberate breaches of people’s health, financial and other personal details. He is also publishing new guidance for organisations to help them in the event of an accidental data breach.
March
31 Mar 08 - ICO prosecutes Bolton accountancy firm
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has successfully prosecuted a Bolton accountancy firm for offences under the Data Protection Act. Azhar Saleem of Saleem and Co Accountants was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £428.50, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15 at Bolton Magistrates’ Court. Mr Saleem must pay a total of £743.50 in fines and costs.
31 Mar 08 - ICO prosecutes London law firm
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has successfully prosecuted a London solicitor for offences under the Data Protection Act. Sajjad Khan of Knights Solicitors, based in London, was fined £650 and ordered to pay costs of £525.40 plus a victims’ surcharge of £15 at London City Magistrates’ Court. Mr Khan must pay a total of £1,1904.40 in fines and costs.
28 Mar 08 - Information Commissioner orders the release of waste management contract
The Information Commissioner has ordered East Riding of Yorkshire Council (East Riding) to release details of its contract with an independent waste management company, Waste Recycling Groups (WRG).
27 Mar 08 - ICO criticises health body over FOI failures
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has strongly criticised Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT) for failing to meet its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). The PCT failed to respond adequately to FOI requests, refused to provide all the relevant documents to the requester, missed several key deadlines for responding to both the requester and the Information Commissioner, and has committed numerous breaches of the Act.
26 Mar 08 - ICO prosecutes professional photographer
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has successfully prosecuted a professional photographer for offences under the Data Protection Act. Charles Pycraft of YD Image Ltd, was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £500, plus a victims’ surcharge of £15. YD Image Ltd was also prosecuted separately and must pay a £100 fine and £15 victim surcharge. Mr Pycraft must pay a total of £930.
19 Mar 08 - UK consumers wake up to privacy
Eight out of ten of us now take greater care in the way we look after our personal information, according to new research published today by the privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The nationwide survey suggests recent high profile data losses have had a significant impact on the way we now manage our personal information. Eighty eight per cent of us have started checking our bank statements on a more regular basis and 85% now refuse to give out personal details wherever possible.
13 Mar 08 - ICO issues practice recommendation to NOMS
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has repeatedly failed to respond to information requests in line with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, according to a review carried out by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO has used its powers and issued NOMS with a formal practice recommendation stating that the agency should review the way it handles FOI requests.
10 Mar 08 - ICO conference examines data protection challenges for 2008
Data protection officers from across the country are meeting today to address some of the key data protection challenges facing organisations this year as the protection of personal information becomes an increasing priority for both organisations and individuals. The Data Protection Officer conference in Manchester, hosted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), will also launch the ICO’s data protection strategy.
03 Mar 08 - Phorm advertising – ICO statement
At the ICO’s request, Phorm has provided written information about the way in which the company intends to meet privacy standards.
February
28 Feb 08 - ICO orders 32 local authorities to release information on pension payments
In a landmark ruling under the Freedom of Information Act, the Information Commissioner has ordered 32 local authorities to disclose the amount of money paid to brokers by investment managers on behalf of employees’ pension funds. The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ruled that there is a strong public interest in releasing the information.
26 Feb 08 - Information Commissioner orders release of Cabinet minutes
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ordered the Cabinet Office to release the minutes of Cabinet meetings where military action against Iraq was discussed. He does not believe, however, that the disclosure of these minutes will necessarily set a precedent in respect of other Cabinet minutes.
21 Feb 08 - Skipton Financial Services in breach of Data Protection Act
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has found Skipton Financial Services (SFS) in breach of the Data Protection Act. This follows the theft of an unencrypted laptop which contained the personal information of 14,000 SFS customers.
20 Feb 08 - ICO prosecutes London law firms
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today successfully prosecuted two London solicitors for offences under the Data Protection Act. Grier Olubi of Adejobi Solicitors and Robert Bentley of Bentley’s Solicitors, both based in London, were each fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £500 plus a victims’ surcharge of £15 at Stratford Magistrates’ Court. Each solicitor must pay a total of £815 in fines and costs.
19 Feb 08 - ICO prosecutes debt company for breaching marketing rules
A Manchester debt recovery company has been successfully prosecuted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for bombarding individuals and businesses with unwanted faxes. The action follows thousands of complaints from individuals and businesses to the ICO and the Fax Preference Service (FPS).
18 Feb 08 - Northern Irish barristers register with the ICO
A record 536 barristers in Northern Ireland are now registered as data controllers thanks to an initiative between the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Northern Ireland Bar Council. This initiative is a welcome move and has set a national precedent for organisations to recognise and comply with the Data Protection Act.
12 Feb 08 - ICO rules against the BBC withholding information
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ordered the BBC to disclose the name of the highest earner at BBC Northern Ireland and their pay band under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the Information Commissioner agreed with the BBC that it would be unreasonable to disclose the exact salary.
08 Feb 08 - Mersey Care NHS Trust right not to release reports into five murders
The Information Commissioner has ruled that the Mersey Care NHS Trust was right not to disclose five critical incident reports into five separate murders carried out by patients of the Trust. The Information Commissioner’s Office agreed with the Trust’s decision that the reports contain personal information and that their release under the freedom of information would breach the Data Protection Act 1998.
06 Feb 08 - Recording people’s conversations on CCTV breaches new privacy code
Seventy two per cent of people in Scotland oppose the idea of CCTV cameras which record their conversations, new research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has revealed. In addition, 56% of Scots are aware that the Data Protection Act gives them rights relating to CCTV – a massive 20% higher than the awareness demonstrated by those surveyed in London and the South East.
January
28 Jan 08 - Surveillance society – ICO rules out CCTV sound recording
Seven out of ten individuals oppose the idea of CCTV cameras which record their conversations, new research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has revealed.
25 Jan 08 - ICO takes enforcement action against Marks & Spencer
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has found Marks & Spencer (M&S) in breach of the Data Protection Act. This follows the theft of an unencrypted laptop which contained the personal information of 26,000 M&S employees.
22 Jan 08 - Information Commissioner orders the release of more information on MPs’ spending
The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ordered the House of Commons to release further details of some MPs’ spending, including incidental expenses and staff costs, on the grounds that such expenses arise from their role as public representatives and are reimbursed from the public purse.
16 Jan 08 - ICO takes enforcement action against Carphone Warehouse
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has found Carphone Warehouse, and its sister company TalkTalk, in breach of the Data Protection Act after investigating complaints concerning the way in which both organisations processed and stored personal information.
08 Jan 08 - Solicitor pleads guilty to data protection offence
A solicitor has been successfully prosecuted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for failing to notify under the Data Protection Act 1998.
01 Jan 08 - Freedom of information - three years on
There has been a sharp increase over the last three years in the number of people who consider that the Freedom of Information Act is delivering significant benefits, according to research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).