Horrendous Bracknell Forest Council data breach

A horrendous Bracknell Forest Council data breach incident has been reported in the media this month, and the circumstances are strikingly familiar.

Unfortunately, the incident doesn’t come as a surprise to us. Over the years we’ve been fighting for the rights of data breach victims, thousands of people have come to us for help. A huge volume of the cases we represent people for are for council data breach compensation claims. They really do happen a lot, and with the wealth of personal and sensitive data that councils hold, the impact on the victims can be serious.

In this case, it’s another incident where information – private and sensitive data – has somehow been sent to the wrong person.

About the Bracknell Forest Council data breach

The Bracknell Forest Council data breach incident is said to have taken place in late 2017. A report is said to have been sent by the council which included personal and sensitive information about a domestic abuse case.

In addition, there was also personal and sensitive data about a cancer patient as well. The report included police and medical reports, and was sent to the wrong recipient. The person who wrongly received the data is said to know the family at the centre of the abuse case as well. The data included information about children as well.

This is similar to the recent Wokingham Council incident we covered. The circumstances in this story are the same as many of the council data breach claims we help people with.

What has been done about the Bracknell Forest Council data breach?

The Bracknell Forest Council data breach incident has understandably led to a great deal of shock. The recipient reported that the council were apparently panicked when they learned of the incident.

An employee of the council visited the recipient to retrieve the exposed information. It’s understood that a full investigation has taken place and actions have been taken as well.

Why is this case so serious?

We say this a lot, but we repeat it so much because that’s the way it is. A huge volume of the cases we help people with are council data breach compensation claims.

Councils and local authorities hold a great deal of personal and sensitive data about a huge volume of people. It can range from the usual personal information to medical information, financial information, criminal data and employment information. If any of this data is leaked, the impact on the victim can be substantial.

Cases where data is accidentally sent to the wrong recipient is frighteningly common, and with GDPR now in place, councils and local authority agencies could face huge fines for breaches they commit. The Bracknell Forest Council data breach incident took place before GDPR came into force.

Our role and our focus is, as always, on the victims. It’s clear to us that improvements need to be made, and when anyone finds themselves a victim of a council data breach, you can rest assured that we will fight for your rights for justice if we can take your case forward.

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