ICO prosecutes company employees for unlawfully accessing client data

A former employee of Lex Autolease Ltd has been prosecuted and fined under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998. The employee illegally accessed personal data records of 551 customers of the Company which related to road traffic accidents. The employee accessed the records on his employer's computer and then emailed them to his private email address, which he then sold to a third party as personal leads.

Section 55 covers the unlawful obtaining, disclosing or procuring of personal data, which is a criminal offence. The ICO has warned that employees should “be aware that documents containing personal data they have produced or worked on belong to their employer and are not theirs to take with them when they leave.”

Currently the offence is punishable by way of a fine only, but the ICO continues to call for more effective deterrent sentences, including the threat of prison, to be available to the courts to stop the unlawful use of personal information.

The employee pleaded guilty to two charges under section 55 of the DPA at Manchester Magistrates' Court. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £364 and a £25 victim surcharge.

Employers should notify the ICO if they are concerned that an individual is misusing personal data, especially if those individuals have access to customer data or are moving to competitors. Informing the ICO will assist in the company avoiding any criticism for covering up or not taking proper action to remedy a data breach.

It is important that employees who have access to commercially sensitive information are employed on strict contractual terms. Such terms should include express confidentiality provisions applying during and after termination of employment and obligations to return all company property and information when leaving the company.

This case demonstrates that the consequences of an employee taking any confidential or customer information can be a criminal offence, in addition to any other consequences arising from a breach of their employment obligations. Whilst the threat of a criminal sentence may be a deterrent, employers should also have in place appropriate security measures supported by policies, procedures and well-trained staff in order to minimise the risk of personal data being compromised. These protections should not only seek to prevent confidential information being stolen in the first place, but also from being used subsequently.

CONTACT CHRIS

If you would like more information or advice relating to this article or an Employment law matter, please do not hesitate to contact Chris Cook on 01727 798098.

© SA LAW 2023

Every care is taken in the preparation of our articles. However, no responsibility can be accepted to any person who acts on the basis of information contained in them alone. You are recommended to obtain specific advice in respect of individual cases.

Read the latest Employment Views & Insights
They seek to understand their clients and advise accordingly to achieve the outcomes that they require for their business needs.
Chambers and Partners
SA Law Work Life red mug and glasses
Stained glass window Employment SA Law
Views & Insights
This Week’s Fine Imposed on Facebook Data

In a recently written article published in The Legal Diary, Christine Caffrey was asked to comment on the news of Facebook being fined €1.2bn…

Read More
Stained glass window Employment SA Law
Views & Insights
Government Announces Changes to Working Time Regulations, TUPE and Non-Compete Clauses

Emily Morrison discusses the significant changes announced by the Government on Working Time Regulations, TUPE and Non-Compete Clauses.

Read More
SA Law Employment Laptop
Views & Insights
Employee Sabbaticals: Business Benefits and Tips on Getting the Policy Right

Gita Patel outlines the business benefits of offering sabbatical leave to employees.

Read More
Phone Box with Man in a Bowler Hat
As there is so much expertise on offer from SA Law they can provide a legal expert on all areas so that it can be handled under one roof.
Legal 500
SA Law Employment Laptop
Views & Insights
Employment Law Update

James Cresswell and Nishma Chudasama discuss the 5 legal updates employers need to know this April.

Read More
Stained glass window Employment SA Law
Views & Insights
Can Legal Action be Taken Against Discriminatory Recruitment Criteria?

It has been ruled by several employment tribunals that gender critical beliefs should not be discriminated against in the workplace, and any discriminatory…

Read More
Stained glass window Employment SA Law
Views & Insights
Consultation on Holiday Pay Following Harpur Trust v Brazel

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has concluded its consultation in response to the Harpur Trust v Brazel case, which…

Read More
Stained glass window Employment SA Law
Views & Insights
Changes to look out for from the Spring Budget 2023

Getting people “back into work” is the main focus of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget announced on 15 March 2023. The reform will impact employees…

Read More
They are knowledgeable, with a commercial mindset, but also down to earth and friendly so it is easy to be very honest with them.
Chambers and Partners