ICO (Central Government) The complainants requested information from the Department for Communities and Local Government (‘DCLG’) relating to a complaint they had made about Arun District Council (‘the council’). DCLG refused to respond to the requests on the basis that they were vexatious under section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the FOIA’). … Continue reading Department for Communities and Local Government – FS50559640: ICO 23 Jul 2015
ICO The complainant has requested correspondence and other information connected with the drafting of legislation whereby the Duchy of Cornwall is not criminally liable under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Cabinet Office refused to provide this citing section 35 (government policy exemption) and section 42 (legal professional privilege exemption) as its … Continue reading Cabinet Office (Central Government) FS50554507: ICO 22 Apr 2015
1267 – 1278 – 1285 – 1297 – 1361 – 1449 – 1491 – 1533 – 1677 – 1688 – 1689 – 1700 – 1706 – 1710 – 1730 – 1737 – 1738 – 1751 – 1774 – 1792 – 1793 – 1804 – 1814 – 1819 – 1824 – 1828 – 1831 – 1832 … Continue reading Acts
The defendant employer had had confidential information of many of its staff taken and disclosed by a rogue employee. The employees now sought compensation. The main issue was whether the company was directly or vicariously liable for the tort. Held: The company were not directly liable, but were liable vicariously: ‘Adopting the broad and evaluative … Continue reading Various Claimants v WM Morrisons Supermarket Plc: QBD 1 Dec 2017
The defendant had been part of an organisation subject to an investigation of child sex abuse. He was cleared of involvement, but had disseminated the confidential reports containing sensitive personal data to support his contention that the process was being misused. He appealed from his conviction under the 1998 Act, saying that the burden of … Continue reading Shepherd v The Information Commissioner: CACD 18 Jan 2019
Dismissed Citations: [2015] UKFTT 2015 – 0014 (GRC) Links: Bailii Statutes: Data Protection Act 1998 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Information Updated: 20 December 2022; Ref: scu.552496
Notes of meetings – On 4 July 2013 and 19 September 2013, Mr R asked the Scottish Prison Service (the SPS) for notes taken at meetings held on those respective dates. In relation to the first request, the SPS advised Mr R to submit a subject access request under the Data Protection Act 1998 (the … Continue reading R v Scottish Prison Service: SIC 2 May 2014
The complainant has requested the shotgun licences and firearms certificates of named individuals held by the council in accordance with the Deed relating to sporting rights on Ilkley Moor (2008) (the Deed). The council confirmed that the information was held in relation to some of the named individuals, but refused to provide copies of the … Continue reading Bradford Metropolitan District Council (Local Government (District Council)): ICO 11 Mar 2015
The complainant requested to know how many travel warrants were drawn and used by a specific MP between the end of 2002 and the end of 2004. The House of Commons withheld the information on the basis that it was exempt under section 40(2) of the Act. The Commissioner found that the requested information is … Continue reading House of Commons (Decision Notice) FS50090141: ICO 7 Sep 2006
On 11 September 2007 the complainant requested from The Commission for Local Administration in England (‘CLAE’) copies of legal guidance provided to it by the Department for Communities and Local Government (the ‘DCLG’), the CLAE’s external auditors and/or the Information Commissioner (the ‘Commissioner’) relating to its handling of requests under the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading Commission for Local Administration In England (Decision Notice): ICO 25 Mar 2008
The defendants appealed against their convictions for conspiracy to facilitate breaches of immigration law, saying that they had been based on evidence obtained by the police from credit reference agencies in breach of their rights under the 1984 Act. Held: The appeals failed. The defendants had expressly agreed in their credit applications and finance agreements … Continue reading Bhatti and Others v Regina: CACD 30 Jul 2015
The complainant requested, on behalf of his client, copies of internal correspondence between 1 February 2014 and 8 April 2014 in relation to a particular summons served by the Vale of Glamorgan Council (‘the Council’) on his client. The Council withheld the information requested under regulation 12(5)(b) of the EIR. During the course of the … Continue reading Vale of Glamorgan Council (Local Government (District Council)): ICO 5 May 2015
The claimant journalist sought disclosure of papers acquired by the respondent in its conduct of enquiries into the charitable Mariam appeal. The Commission referred to an absolute exemption under section 32(2) of the 2000 Act, saying that the exemption continued until the papers were destroyed, or for 20 years under the 1958 Act. Held: The … Continue reading Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014
The claimants were facing capital charges in Thailand. They sought the release of information held by the defendant to assist in their defence on charges of the murder of two British tourists. In particular a report had been prepared by the MPS about the investigation in Thailand after doubts about the investigation. The MPS aid … Continue reading Lin and Another v Commissioner of Police for The Metropolis: QBD 25 Aug 2015
The claimant appealed against the refusal of a privacy order, protecting his identity in his claim. Held: The appeal was refused. That Article 8 was ‘engaged’ was not conclusive of the question whether the claimant enjoyed a reasonable expectation of privacy Judges: Lord Neuberger MR, Etherton, Gross LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 808, [2012] EMLR … Continue reading Hutcheson (Formerly Known As ‘KGM’) v News Group Newspapers Ltd and Others: CA 19 Jul 2011
The complainant requested emails between officials of Wycombe District Council (the Council) relating to the investigation of a complaint made about him. The Council initially refused the request under the exemptions provided by sections 42(1) (legal professional privilege) and 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) (inhibition to the free and frank provision of advice and exchange of views) … Continue reading Wycombe District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 12 Aug 2013
Company directors used council employee to illegally access tenants’ details A Slough letting agent and one of its directors who unlawfully obtained details about their tenants from a rogue employee at Slough Borough Council have been found guilty of committing offences under Section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). At Reading Magistrates today, … Continue reading Sandhu (Prosecution): ICO 30 Mar 2012
Barclays Bank employee prosecuted for illegally accessing customer’s account A former Barclays Bank employee has been fined pounds 3,360 after illegally accessing the details of a customer’s account. In one case the employee, Jennifer Addo, found out the number of children the customer had and passed the details to the customer’s then partner, who was … Continue reading Addo (Prosecution): ICO 25 Sep 2013
The complainants are a firm of solicitors representing clients who are in dispute with the council over their house. The house is close to the intended route of a new section of road and the clients are concerned that this will adversely affect their enjoyment of, and the value of their property. The council provided … Continue reading East Sussex County Council (Decision Notice): ICO 9 Mar 2011
ICO The complainant was the subject of a civil proceedings order issued under section 42 of the Supreme Court Act 1981. The complainant asked the public authority for a letter about him which was sent by the judges to the Attorney General’s Office after his court case that initiated this order. The public authority did … Continue reading Her Majestys Courts Service (Decision Notice): ICO 25 Mar 2009
The complainant requested information held by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (the council) in relation to the settlement of employment tribunal proceedings brought by six former council employees under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 who were dismissed for whistle blowing. In particular, he asked for the total amount paid to the former employees. The council … Continue reading Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (Decision Notice): ICO 14 Oct 2009
The complainant requested information on the amount of money his opponent in legal proceedings had received in legal aid. The Legal Services Commission refused the request on the basis that the information constituted personal data about the complainant’s opponent and so was exempt under section 40(2) of the Act. The Commissioner agrees with the LSC … Continue reading Legal Services Commission (Decision Notice): ICO 23 Oct 2006
Leeds County Court – The court considered the extent of the obligation imposed by s 8(2) of the 1998 Act. Held: The data controller is only required under the section to supply the individual with such personal data as is found after a reasonable and proportionate search. Judges: Behrens HHJ Citations: Unreported 24 April 2012 … Continue reading Elliott v Lloyds TSB Bank: 24 Apr 2012
The claimant alleged that disparaging adverts by the defendant infringed its trade marks and amounted to the tort of malicious falsehood. Held: There was no dispute that the mark had been used. The Act could not be used to prevent any use of another’s trade mark in comparitive advertising. In this case the advertisement, though … Continue reading British Airways Plc v Ryanair Limited: ChD 25 Oct 2000
A probation officer who revealed a domestic abuse victim’s new address to the alleged perpetrator has been fined pounds 150 following a prosecution bought by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Victoria Idowu claimed that she provided the victim’s full name, new address and date of birth, along with the details of the investigating officer, as … Continue reading Idowu (Prosecution): ICO 15 Aug 2013
The complainant and his wife initially requested copies of two incident reports which had been completed by staff members of Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust (the public authority) in 2001, in relation to alleged abusive and aggressive behaviour by the complainant and his wife. The public authority treated this request, and the subsequent request referred … Continue reading Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust (Decision Notice): ICO 2 Jul 2007
Dismissed [2016] UKFTT 2016 – 0155 (GRC) Bailii Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 England and Wales Information Updated: 27 January 2022; Ref: scu.572306
ICO Mr Tandon has been prosecuted at Manchester Magistrates’ Court for offences of unlawfully obtaining and selling personal data. The defendant, who worked at Lex Autolease Limited emailed personal data of 551 Lex Autolease customers, relating to road traffic accidents, from his former employer’s computer system to his personal email address, which he then sold … Continue reading Tandon (Prosecutions, Finance Insurance and Credit): ICO 2 Nov 2016
The claimant sought damages for defamation. The council had decided that she had threatened a member of staff and notified various people, and entered her name on a violent persons register. She alleged malice, the council pleaded justification and qualified privilege. She also complained of the breach of her data protection rights. She had been … Continue reading Clift v Slough Borough Council and Another: QBD 6 Jul 2009
Three claimants appealed against refusal of declarations that the response of the police to requests for Criminal Records Bureau enhanced checks, were a disproportionate interference in their right to private and family life, and in particular that the disclosure of old convictions infringed their human rights. Held: The appeals succeeded. The statutory system which required … Continue reading T, Regina (on The Application of) v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester and Others: CA 29 Jan 2013
Local government (County council) The complainant has requested information from Derbyshire County Council (the council) regarding the purchase of a specific property. The council refused to provide some of the requested information relying on section 38 of the FOIA as disclosure would prejudice the health and safety of individuals. It also relied on section 41 … Continue reading Derbyshire County Council (Local Government (County Council)): ICO 13 Apr 2015
ICO The complainant has requested information relating to the performance assessment of a doctor carried out by the General Medical Council (GMC). During that assessment the complainant provided a statement which the doctor then commented on. It is the doctor’s comments on her statement that the complainant has requested. The GMC refused to provide the … Continue reading General Medical Council (Local Government (Other)): ICO 9 Mar 2015
ICO Central government The complainant has requested information concerning inspection policies and training held by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (‘APHA’). He has also requested information concerning a Moderation Panel hearing which considered his complaint made to APHA. The request was made as part of a subject access request (‘SAR’). APHA provided a response … Continue reading Animal and Plant Health Agency (Central Government ): ICO 5 Nov 2015
ICO Local government (Borough council) The complainant has requested from Newham Council the total amount it has deducted from its elected councillors’ basic and where applicable special responsibility allowances and passed to funds/accounts controlled by the mayor, the Labour Group or the Labour Party between 6 April 2010 and 5 April 2014. Newham Council has … Continue reading Newham London Borough Council (Local Government (Borough Council)): ICO 13 Jan 2015
Claim for injunctions requiring the Defendant, the publisher of the ‘Solicitors from Hell’ website (‘the Website’), to cease publication of the Website in its entirety and to restrain him from publishing any similar website. Tugendhat J [2011] EWHC 3185 (QB) Bailii Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Data Protection Act 1998 England and Wales Cited by: … Continue reading Law Society and others v Kordowski: QBD 7 Dec 2011
The clamants sought orders under the 1998 Act for disclosure of documents about them by the defendant solicitors and others. The defendants said that the request would require the consideration of a very large number of documents, considering in each case whether they would require discovery and or were protected by legal professional privilege, and … Continue reading Dawson-Damer and Others v Taylor Wessing Llp and Others: ChD 6 Aug 2015
SIC Correspondence Regarding A Complaint – On 10 December 2014, Mr Mackenzie asked the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (the SPSO) for correspondence sent to and received by the SPSO during its investigation of a complaint. The SPSO withheld the information under section 26(a) of FOISA, on the basis that its disclosure was prohibited by other … Continue reading Mackenzie and Scottish Public Services Ombudsman: SIC 17 Jun 2015
The bank challenged measures taken by HM Treasury to restrict access to the United Kingdom’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank, Bank Mellat, on the account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The bank sought to have the direction given under section 7 of the 2008 Act. … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013
Triforce Recruitment Ltd has been prosecuted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for committing an offence of failing to notify under section 17 of the Data Protection Act 1998. The Company, who provide career opportunities for service leavers and ex-forces personnel, was found guilty in its absence for the offence of processing data without having an entry … Continue reading The Alzheimers Society (Enforcement Notices, Charitable and Voluntary) 2016-23: ICO 7 Jan 2016
The complainant requested a copy of correspondence sent by a third party to Prestatyn Town Council (‘the Council’). The Council withheld the information requested under sections 40(1) and 40(2) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has correctly applied section 40(1) to the request. The Commissioner does not require any steps to … Continue reading Prestatyn Town Council (Local Government (Town Council)): ICO 17 Jun 2015
ICO The complainant requested information concerned with the tendering process for the delivery of marketing workshops from Business Link West Midlands (BLWM) whose freedom of information responsibilities have now been assumed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Commissioner’s decision is that the majority of the requested information is not held. His … Continue reading Department for Business Innovation and Skills (Decision Notice): ICO 20 Jun 2012
The parties were engaged in ancillary relief proceedings. The Husband complained that the wife had sought to use unlawfully obtained information, and in these proceedings sought delivery up of the material from the wife and her solicitors. He said that the information was subject to professional legal privilege and was otherwise confidential. They had admitted … Continue reading L v L and Hughes Fowler Carruthers: QBD 1 Feb 2007
Resolution Complaints Panel reports – On 4 July 2013, Mrs Thompson asked for a copy of Resolution Complaints Panel reports prepared by the City of Edinburgh Council (the Council). The Council decided that the information in the reports was entirely excepted from disclosure under the EIRs. During the investigation, the Council disclosed a redacted version … Continue reading Thompson v City of Edinburgh Council: SIC 4 Mar 2014
The claimants alleged misuse of their private information in collecting information about their internet useage when using Google products. Google now applied for an order setting aside consent for service out of the jurisdiction. Held: The judge dismissed the applications to set aside permission to serve the claim form out of the jurisdiction in respect … Continue reading Vidal-Hall and Others v Google Inc: QBD 16 Jan 2014
The complainant has requested information from the London Borough of Hounslow (‘the Council’) relating to a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council incorrectly handled requests 1 and 12 under the FOIA. These two requests should have been handled under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) as they seek the requesters … Continue reading Hounslow London Borough Council (Local Government (Borough Council)): ICO 7 Jul 2015
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
Commissioner’s Approach not in Breach In May 2010, a Mr Irvine made requests under the 2002 Act for information from South Lanarkshire Council. He wanted to know how many of their employees in a particular post were placed at 10 particular points on the Council’s pay scales. His underlying purpose was to find out whether … Continue reading South Lanarkshire Council v The Scottish Information Commissioner: SC 29 Jul 2013
Vice-Chancellor was asked to consider whether to strike out a statement of claim based upon alleged misfeasance by a police officer in his public office. The allegation against the police officer was that he had deliberately and falsely supplied details of convictions to the press. The point taken was that it was not concerned with … Continue reading Elliott v Chief Constable of Wiltshire and Others: ChD 20 Nov 1996
Damages for breach of Data Protection The claimants sought damages alleging that Google had, without their consent, collected personal data about them, which was resold to advertisers. They used the Safari Internet browser on Apple products. The tracking and collation of the claimants’ browser generated information was contrary to the defendant’s publicly stated position that … Continue reading Google Inc v Vidal-Hall and Others: CA 27 Mar 2015
Restraint on Interference with Burden of Proof The defendant had been convicted for possessing drugs found on him in a bag when he was arrested. He denied knowing of them. He was convicted having failed to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that he had not known of the drugs. The case was heard before … Continue reading Regina v Lambert: HL 5 Jul 2001
(Grand Chamber) The applicants complained that on being arrested on suspicion of offences, samples of their DNA had been taken, but then despite being released without conviction, the samples had retained on the Police database. Held: (Unanimous) The retention was unlawful. Though other member states retained some DNA samples in certain conditions, the UK was … Continue reading Marper v United Kingdom; S v United Kingdom: ECHR 4 Dec 2008
An MP had asked the Agency under the 2002 Act for details of all incidents of childhood leukaemia for both sexes by year from 1990 to 2003 for all the DG (Dumfries and Galloway) postal area by census ward. The Agency replied by saying that the release of the information would put at risk the … Continue reading Common Services Agency v Scottish Information Commissioner: HL 9 Jul 2008
No Damage – No extra jurisdiction Service Application to serve proceedings here – allegation that over some months Google acted in breach its duty under the 1998 Act by secretly tracking the internet activity of Apple iPhone users, collating and using the information it obtained by doing so, and then selling the accumulated data. The … Continue reading Lloyd v Google Llc: QBD 8 Oct 2018
The Union challenged the right of the respondent to resell tickets to international rugby matches. The tickets were subject to a condition rendering it void on any resale at above face value. They said that the respondent had advertised tickets in breach of this condition. The Court considered whether it was appropriate to protect the … Continue reading The Rugby Football Union v Consolidated Information Services Ltd: SC 21 Nov 2012
The Mirror had published a picture of Naomi Campbell leaving a rehabilitation clinic. They appealed a decision in which having been found to have infringed her privacy by a covertly taken photograph, they had then been ordered to pay very substantial sums in costs, including a success fee. Held: The court asked the parties to … Continue reading MGN Limited v United Kingdom: ECHR 24 Oct 2008
The claimant wished to begin a claim alleging historic sexual abuse while he had been at an institution run by the defendants. The claimant sought pre-trial disclosure of various documents and the court now considered the principle applicable, and in particular the roles of Data Protection law and the Civil Procedure Rules. Held: The Council’s … Continue reading Durham County Council v Dunn: CA 13 Dec 2012
Our law-index is a substantial selection from our database. Cases here are restricted in number by date and lack the additional facilities formerly available within lawindexpro. Please do enjoy this free version of the lawindex. Case law does not ‘belong’ to lawyers. Judgments are made up of words which can be read and understood (if … Continue reading law index
