Local authorities misplace consumer data: November 2011
Startling statistics came to light this week following a FOI request from Big Brother Watch (BWW.) The information highlighted over 1000 incidences of data loss across 132 councils over the past three years. This means nearly a third of all councils in the UK have lost their citizens’ personal information at some point between August 2008 to August 2011.*
Approximately 244 laptops, 98 memory sticks and 93 mobile phones were lost – some even containing data on children. While this is shocking in itself, this situation also raises the question of data protection legislation and regulation – only 55 incidences were actually reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – and only nine jobs were lost as a result.
David Woolley, Development Director of Wincanton Records Management – the fastest growing records management company in the UK and Ireland – comments: “There are severe penalties that can be levied by the ICO at organisations for contravening data storage and management legislation. What is clear, however, is that there is a disconnect between this legislation and how it is being enforced. Cases such as this only serve to increase public awareness of poor data protection, so local authorities should address their data and records management procedures, as there will be greater financial, as well as reputational, consequences in the future.
David continues: “We would recommend all organisations undergo a full records and data protection management audit, which will identify the areas for improvement. A strategy can then be put in place to ensure full compliance and maximum operational efficiency.”
Wincanton Records Management is one of the fastest growing records management companies in the UK and Ireland. The company has over 20 years’ experience in delivery of records management services. Their client portfolio includes large blue-chip companies such as Clifford Chance, UHY Hacker Young, Baring Investment Services and Pfizer Limited, as well as SMEs.
For more information on the secure document disposal and confidential data destruction services offered by Wincanton Records Management, please visit www.wincantonrm.co.uk or call 0870 90 88 000.
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For all media enquiries, please contact Lindsey Bertram or Rebecca Riley at
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Notes to editors:
< *http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/
< WRM offers the ideal solution for document storage. By providing off-site storage solutions for both live and archive documents, the company frees up valuable space in customers’ workplace’s which can be better used for business growth activities
< WRM works closely with its clients in order to understand their needs, and tailor its services accordingly
< WRM prides itself on building and maintaining successful business relationships with its customers based on trust and confidence
< WRM provides a full end-to-end service that manages and cares for records from creation to secure destruction and every step in between
< Documents are stored in dedicated, state-of-the-art records and media storage centres in various locations across the UK & Ireland – providing storage for more than 20 million items
< www.wincantonrm.co.uk
