Data breach policy

This Data Breach Policy is provided to you by Hednesford Town Council

A personal data breach is one that leads to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to personal data.

1. Notifying the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)

The Information Commissioners Office will be notified of a breach where it is likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals or if it could result in discrimination, damage to reputation, financial loss, loss of confidentiality or any other significant economic or social disadvantage.

Data Breaches will be recorded using the ICO’s online system: https://ico.org.uk/fororganisations/report-a-breach/ and the following information should be provided:

  • The potential scope and cause of the breach
  • Mitigation actions the council plans to take
  • Details of how the council plans to address the problem.

2. Notifying the Individual concerned

If a breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals (such as through identity theft) the council will notify those concerned.

3. Timescales

Under the GDPR, we are required to report a personal data breach, which meets the reporting criteria, within 72 hours to the Information Commissioner.

In line with the accountability requirements, all data breaches must be recorded by the town council along with details of actions taken. This record will help to identify system failures and should be used to improve the security of personal data.

4. Notifying the council

If anyone (including a third party such as a payroll provider) suspects that a data breach has occurred details of the alleged breach should be submitted immediately in writing to:

The Town Council
Manager/Clerk
Pye Green Community Centre
Bradbury Lane
Hednesford
WS12 4EP

Approved June 2018