Numerous Gateshead Council data breach incidents

There has been a spate of Gateshead Council data breach incidents since the introduction of the new GDPR data rules that came into force in May 2018.

A number of breaches have been reported, some of which have been referred to the UK’s data watchdog; the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The numerous breaches reportedly include personal and medical data being uploaded online and data sent to the wrong recipients. These kinds of incidents can be common, and we represent a lot of people who claim for council data breach compensation. News of the recent spate of Gateshead Council data breach incidents is a concern, but doesn’t come as a surprise to us.

About the recent Gateshead Council data breach

The recent Gateshead Council data breach incidents reportedly include:

• Personal and medical data being uploaded to an online forum;
• A resident in council tax arrears being sent the information for 53 other people who were also owed money;
• A fostering agency sending information out about a child who wasn’t in their care;
• A psychology report being sent to the wrong address;
• A report being sent to the wrong solicitor;
• An employee losing a notebook that contained personal data;
• A resident’s information being shared with a landlord without their permission.

There has also been letters containing data about care cases sent to the wrong recipients, which is a common type of breach. There has been incidents of correspondence about housing benefit or council tax being with the correct information being sent to the wrong people. Again, that’s a common type of breach.

What’s being done about the Gateshead Council data breach incidents?

We can’t say that we’re surprised to hear about the Gateshead Council data breach incidents. They’re said to total 19 since the new GDPR rules came into force last year.

One of the most common types of cases we represent people for are claims for council data breach compensation. The reason is because of the volume of council and local authority breaches is incredibly high. With councils storing and processing a lot of very personal and sensitive data about a huge number of people, breaches can be numerous, and they can be very serious.

But the law’s the law. Councils must do all they can to protect the data they process and hold, and we can’t have these kinds of avoidable incidents taking place so often.

Incorrectly addressed letters is said to be an “ongoing problem”. We understand that staff have been spoken to, but  it’s clear to us that far more needs to be done to avoid these kinds of simple but potentially catastrophic data breach incidents.

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