Data Protection
Documents pertaining to Data Protection
Your rights
Individual rights in relation to Data Protection
Your rights
The Data Protection Act gives you various rights about the way in which your personal information is used. These are summarised below.
1. The right of subject access
This allows you to find out what information the Council holds about you in its computer and paper filing systems. For more information see Accessing Your Information.
2. The right to prevent the processing of your personal information
Anyone can ask the Council to stop processing information that relates to him/her that causes substantial damage or distress to them or anyone else. If you want to object to the way that the Council processes your information, you should write to the Council explaining what information you object to and how this has caused you damage/distress. (The address is shown on the Contacts page)
3. The right to prevent processing for direct marketing
Anyone can ask the Council to stop using their personal information for the promotion of Council services/marketing.
4. Rights in relation to automated-decision making
Individuals have the right to object to decisions that are made purely by automatic means with no human involvement, for example a point scoring system used to select candidates for interview. Hertsmere Borough Council does not currently have any completely automated decision making processes.
5. The right to compensation
Anyone has the right to make a claim for compensation. You can make a claim for compensation if you feel that Hertsmere Borough Council is in breach of the Data Protection Act and you have suffered damage or distress as a result of this. If you are unable to settle your dispute with the Council you can take your case to court. The court will want to know what steps you have already taken with the Council to settle your claim.
6. The right to have inaccurate information amended or destroyed
An individual can ask the Council to correct or delete information that is incorrect. If the Council does not respond to such requests action can be taken through the courts.
7. The right to ask the Information Commissioner to assess whether the Council is in breach of the Data Protection Act.
If you believe that your personal data has not been processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act you can ask the Information Commissioner to make an assessment.
If you would like to exercise any of these rights you should first contact the Information Officer at Hertsmere Borough Council at foi@hertsmere.gov.uk
Alternatively for more information see the Information Commissioner’s website.