A former Leicester City Council employee who set up his own business after leaving the council has been order to pay a total of £544.08 for unlawfully obtaining personal data under section 55 of the Data Protection Act.
After an investigation by the Council it was revealed that the employee who worked in the Adult Social Care Department had sent financial, car and medical details relating to 349 users of Council services to a private email account.
Head of Enforcement at the Information Commissioner’s Office, Steve Eckersley, stated:
“Employees need to understand the consequences of taking people’s personal information with them when they leave a job role. It’s illegal and when you’re caught, you will be prosecuted.”
In this case, the employee was fined £160 and was ordered to pay £364.08 in prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
For more information, please contact Nelsons’ Employment Law team via our online form or call 0800 024 1976.