Privacy and data protection

The Data Protection Act 1998 (opens in a new window) (DPA) aims to promote high standards in the handling of personal information, and to protect the individual's right to privacy.

The DPA applies to anyone holding information about living individuals in electronic format and in some cases on paper. They must follow the eight data protection principles of good information handling.

Eight data protection principles

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.

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 we may hold about you, such as benefits information.

Why do we hold information about you?

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, Derbyshire Dales 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" (see below). Use the Subject Access Request Form if you want to find out if we hold any personal information about you. You will need to print the form, sign it and send it to us with two pieces of identification and a fee of £10.

Depending on the sensitivity of the data being released, we may ask for further identification such as a passport or photo ID driving licence.

Once we have received your request, identification and fee, we must respond within 40 days. Further guidance can be found at the end of the form.

Contact us

For more information on Data Protection, please contact the Council's Data Protection Officer, Phil Colledge.

Tel: 01629 761203.
email: phil.colledge@derbyshiredales.gov.uk