Data Protection: Financial Penalties for Misusing Employees Data

Data Protection: Financial Penalties for Misusing Employees Data

The High Court this week has issued guidance on the financial penalties for misusing employees data.

It’s a reminder that employers are not free to breach the data Protection Act without cost when it comes to employees. In this case, one Police force gave personal data to another force about one of their employees. The employee took umbrage and it cost £9,000.  The employer got away with this amount only because there was no intend to harm or embarrass or involving wide distribution.

The lesson is to take data protection seriously and complaints by staff relating to it equally seriously.

The case can be read at the following link:

Brown v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis

Our thanks to our friend John Cook for drawing our attention to this case.

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