The Data Protection Act 1998 was brought into force on 1st March 2000.

The Act sets out 8 principles for the fair and lawful obtaining, recording, use and security of personal information.

As well as reading about how the Act works, please also read the following pages:

The Act works in two ways.

1. It gives you, as an individual, certain rights.
2. It ensures that we, as an organisation who record and use personal information, are open about how the information is used.

Norfolk Constabulary Personal Information Handling Statement
Set out below are the principles we at Norfolk Constabulary apply when we handle personal information.

1. We collect and use personal information so that we can carry out our legal and legitimate functions. These functions are defined by legislation, common law and best practice.

 

2.  We will use the information we collect to:

• prevent and detect crime,
• apprehend and prosecute offenders,
• protect life and property,
• maintain law and order,
• give assistance to members of the public.
  

3. At Norfolk Constabulary we may use your personal information to help us evaluate our performance and effectiveness. We may contact you and ask you to give us your opinion of the service we are providing to the public. We will use the information you give to improve our service wherever we can.

 

4. Where possible and appropriate you will be informed of the reason why we are holding your personal information. Personal information may be held without your knowledge or consent when this is necessary for purposes such as the prevention or detection of crime, the prosecution or apprehension of offenders, national security, and public safety.

 

5. All personal information is handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

 

6. We collect and use information only for policing and associated purposes. We will not use or disclose your information for any other purposes without your consent unless we are required to do so by law, or it is in the over-riding public interest to do so.

 

7. We may give information to agents or contractors so that they can provide the facilities we need. In such cases legally binding contracts covering the use and security of your information will be put in place.

 

8. We may share information with other agencies under partnership working      arrangements. Where personal information is shared, personal details that can identify individuals will be removed where appropriate. We will share personal information only when it is lawful to do so and when your rights have been fully considered.

 

9. We take great care to ensure the information we hold is accurate, kept up to date and is destroyed when no longer required.

 

10. We use a variety of physical, technical and procedural measures to protect personal information from unauthorised or accidental disclosure, loss or corruption.

 

11. Our staff are trained in the appropriate procedures and policies for correct handling of personal information.

 

12. We will normally provide a copy of any information we hold about you on request. If you believe the information we hold is inaccurate or misleading it will be checked and corrected if appropriate.

 

13. If you are unhappy with the way in which we have handled your personal information you can complain to the Constabulary's Data Protection Officer or Professional Standards Department.

 

For more information on this issue see the FAQ section or contact the Data Protection Officer, Norfolk Constabulary, Falconers Chase, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0WW. Tel: 0845 456 4567.