Leaving for a new job- Dont walk off with personal information warns ICO
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9 September 2014
The
Information Commissioner�s Office (ICO) is warning employees that
walking off with the personal information of their employer when
changing jobs is a criminal offence.
The warning comes on the day a paralegal, who previously worked at
Jordans Solicitors in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, was prosecuted for illegally
taking the sensitive information of over 100 people before leaving for
a rival firm in April 2013. The information was contained in six emails
sent by James Pickles in the weeks before he left the firm. Pickles had
hoped to use the information, which included workload lists, file notes
and template documents but still contained sensitive personal data, in
his new role.
Appearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court today, 29 year-old
Pickles was prosecuted under section 55 of the Data Protection Act and
fined �300, ordered to pay a �30 victim surcharge and �438.63
prosecution costs.
ICO Head of Enforcement, Stephen Eckersley, said:
�Stealing personal information is a crime. The information contained in
the documents taken by James Pickles included sensitive details
relating to individuals involved in ongoing legal proceedings. He took
this information without the permission of his former employer and has
been rewarded with a day in court and a substantial fine.
�Employees may think work related documents that they have produced or
worked on belong to them and so they are entitled to take them when
they leave. But if they include people�s details, then taking them
without permission is breaking the law. Don�t risk a day in court.�
Unlawfully obtaining or accessing personal data is a criminal offence
under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998. The offence is
punishable by way of �fine only� - up to �5,000 in a Magistrates Court
or an unlimited fine in a Crown Court. The ICO continues to call for
more effective deterrent sentences, including the threat of prison, to
be available to the courts to stop the unlawful use of personal
information.
Notes
If you need more information, please contact the ICO press office on
0303 123 9070 or visit the website at: www.ico.org.uk.
1. The Information Commissioner�s Office upholds information rights in
the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data
privacy for individuals.
2. The ICO has specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection
Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental
Information Regulations 2004 and Privacy and Electronic Communications
Regulations 2003.
3. The ICO is on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Read more in the ICO
blog and e-newsletter.Our Press Office page provides more information
for journalists.
4. Anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight
principles of the Data Protection Act, which make sure that personal
information is:
� Fairly and lawfully processed
� Processed for limited purposes
� Adequate, relevant and not excessive
� Accurate and up to date
� Not kept for longer than is necessary
� Processed in line with your rights
� Secure
� Not transferred to other countries without adequate
protection
About the Author
The Information Commissioner�s Office is the UK�s
independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public
interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for
individuals. We do this by promoting good practice, ruling on
complaints, providing information to individuals and organisations and
taking appropriate action when the law is broken.
The ICO enforces and oversees the following
legislation:
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Privacy and Electronic Communications
Regulations
2003
- Environmental Information Regulations
2004
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2014-09-15 09:03:45 in Business Articles
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