You are able to see personal information that we keep about you on our computer systems. The new data protection legislation* will also give you the right to see personal information that is readily available in manual files. When you submit a formal request to the Data Protection Officer to see your personal information you will be able to indicate whether or not you wish to see your manual records as well as any information that is kept on computers.

Sometimes your personal information may contain references about other individuals, either because they are involved with you, eg: family members, carer, partner, etc, or because they have provided professional advice, eg: your family doctor. You have the right to see personal information about yourself, but you are not entitled to know what is recorded about anyone else – even other family members - without their consent. We may also owe a duty of confidentiality to individuals who have provided information, eg: your family doctor, and under these circumstances would require their consent to reveal information. If individuals withhold consent it may mean that you will be unable to see some of your personal information.  

There are also a few, very special and exceptional circumstances, in which your personal information can be withheld from you, eg: the administration of justice for the prevention or detection of crime.   

It is the aim of Swindon Borough Council to ensure that you may see all of the information that you are entitled to. The consent of other individuals will be sought where this is necessary and practical and decisions to withhold information will only be made by senior managers after careful consideration of each individual case.

*This refers to the Data Protection Act 1998. This section of the website is not a full statement of the law and does not detail all of your rights. It is concerned with your right to access your personal information.