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The destruction of the data has to be
absolute to ensure that data cannot be used to identify individuals and that it can't fall into the wrong hands.
The Data Protection Act
1998 increased the responsibilities of
companies
relating to confidential data. Companies
must destroy under secure
conditions any data containing personal
information. Putting information
in bins and hoping that it will be
destroyed at a later date is not
enough.
Any individual who
suffers damage because of a
contravention by the data
controller is entitled to compensation
for that damage. Contravention of
the Data Protection Act is a criminal offence carrying a maximum
fine of up to £5000
So what is confidential
then?
These are all classed as
confidential - do you have any of them
one your computers?
-
Questionnaires or any
data collected under a guarantee of
confidentiality.
-
Correspondence or
other documents which reveal the
contact
details or any financial details of
a named living person, unless
specific permission has been given
to circulate the details.
-
Correspondence or
other documents which reveal
personal details
or pass comments on a named living
person.
-
Staff personnel
records
-
Discipline records
-
Student records
-
Grant applications
-
Job applications
-
Interview notes
-
Admissions records
-
Redundancy records
-
Sick pay records
-
Maternity pay
records
-
Income tax and
National Insurance returns
-
Wages and salary
records
-
Accident books and
records
-
Health records
-
Medical records
-
Any record which, if
made public before a certain period,
may breach
commercial confidentiality. e.g.:
Please use the
contact page
or call us to
discuss this in more detail |
