WIREDGOV

A series of reports published by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) yesterday has highlighted the positive approaches many private sector companies are adopting to look after people’s data. However concerns remain about data protection compliance within the local government sector and the NHS.

The findings are included in four reports which summarise the outcomes of over 60 ICO audits carried out in the private, NHS, local and central government sectors.

Announcing the reports, Louise Byers, Head of Good Practice, at the ICO said:

“We have been providing free audits to help organisations look after the personal information they collect and publishing the results for two years now. During this time we have seen some innovative and well thought out approaches to keeping people’s personal information secure and complying with the Data Protection Act. Today’s reports allow for this knowledge to be shared, while raising areas of continued concern.”

Each report provides a summary of the level of assurance the organisations in each sector have provided during their audit, along with relevant examples of good practice and existing areas for improvement. The audits were all carried out between February 2010 and July 2012.

Within the private sector, the ICO had a high level of assurance that 11 out of the 16 companies audited had policies and procedures in place to comply with the Act. This included having robust security measures in place and providing thorough training for their staff.

Commenting on the report for the private sector, Louise Byers continued:

“The private sector organisations we have audited so far should be commended for their positive approach to looking after people’s data. However this does not mean that businesses in the UK should rest on their laurels. We are still seeing relatively few companies agree to an ICO audit and further improvements can be made, particularly when it comes to the retention and deletion of data.”

In the health service only one of the 15 organisations audited provided a high level of assurance to the ICO, with the local government sector showing a similar trend with only one out of 19 organisations achieving the highest mark. Central government departments fair little better with two out of 11 organisations achieving the highest level of assurance. 

Louise Byers continued:

“While the NHS and central government departments we’ve audited generally have good information governance and training practices in place, they need to do more to keep people’s data secure. Local government authorities also need to improve how they record where personal information is held and who has access to it.

“The results of these reports show why we have requested an extension to our compulsory audit powers to cover the NHS and local government sectors. Organisations in these areas will be handling sensitive information, often relating to the care of vulnerable people. It is important that we have the powers available to us to help these sectors improve.”

Copies of the four reports covering each of the different sectors are available in on the ICO guidance page 'What is an audit and how can I request one?'

The ICO has produced a guide to ICO audits for organisations considering an audit.

Organisations that would like to be considered for an audit are invited to register their interest by sending an email to audit@ico.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to Editors

1. The Information Commissioner’s Office upholds information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
 
2. The ICO has specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.

3. The ICO is on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and produces a monthly e-newsletter.
 
4. Anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight principles of the Data Protection Act, which make sure that personal information is:

• Fairly and lawfully processed
• Processed for limited purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate and up to date
• Not kept for longer than is necessary
• Processed in line with your rights
• Secure
• Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection