Subject Access Requests

How to make a request to see your personal information under the Data Protection Act

Personal Information

The Act provides you with a right of access to personal information the Council holds about you. This is also known as ‘subject access rights’.

A lot of useful information regarding the application process and personal information is available in “Our commitment to you and your rights" leaflet|

How to make a request

To make a request, you will need to download and complete our Subject Access Request form|. If you wish to make a CCTV request, you will need to complete a CCTV application form|.

 

Please ensure that you complete all parts of the form as thoroughly as you can. This will help us to process your request and to identify area(s) of service delivery which may hold personal information about you.

 

Completed forms should be returned to:

Data Protection Officer
Legal Services
Bournemouth Borough Council
Bourne Avenue
Bournemouth
BH2 6DY

 

You cannot and should not submit your application electronically via email as this is not a secure means of transmitting personal data. Also, we cannot process requests until identification documents and the fee has been received.

Is there a charge?

There is a £10 fee for making a Subject Access Request. Cheques should be made payable to Bournemouth Borough Council and should be included with your completed application form. The Council prefers not to recieve cash payments, so please use a cheque or postal order if at all possible.

Do I send original original identification?

The Council cannot guarantee the safe return of original documentation. You should only provide copies of any identification documents.

Will I be able to see all the information I have requested?

The Act permits access to personal information the Council holds about you. You cannot request to see personal information the Council holds about another individual unless their written consent has been obtained to confirm you are acting on their behalf.

What is Third Party Information?

Sometimes, your personal information may contain information about other individuals. This is referred to as ‘third party information’. This could be information about other family members, carers, friends etc or information that has been provided by another individual or agency e.g. doctors, solicitors etc. Sometimes we may have to withhold or edit information before we release it to you so that it does not identify third parties. More information is available on our third party| pages.

 

More detailed information is available in the ‘Our commitment to you and your rights’|

How will the information be provided to me?

We provide information to you using Special Delivery to make sure it is secure in transit. You may prefer to collect information in person. Please indicate this on your application form if this is your preference.

How long do I have to wait for information to be provided to me?

We will usually provide information to you within 40 calendar days of your request being received. If this is not possible, we will notify you.

If I am not happy with the way in which my request was handled or the information I have been provided with, can I appeal or make a complaint?

We do our best to resolve any issues that may arise in connection with your request. However, if you do not feel that we have resolved these satisfactorily, you can request an Internal Review which will be undertaken in accordance with the Council’s complaints procedure|.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the Internal Review, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner|.