Emails covered by Data protection rules?

olly300

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Right thanks for your help folks - I have the email address of the 2 persons responsible (council email addresses) so I could ask the data controller for all messages discussing me from say last April to now and they should be made available to me?

Yes.

The only other reason why they may claim they can't give them to you is if the emails mention other private individuals names.

However as you have your own copies don't worry about this so much.

One of the problems with the Data Protection Act is companies and organisations claim they don't have the records you ask for. As no one can prove they have them due the law presuming people are telling the truth then unless you have your own copy of some of the records you are powerless.

misterdave wrote: »

I cannot go via councillor as that person is related to one of the people sending the messages!

There should be at least 2 other councillors in your ward.

If they are not the same political party as this councillor then it may be worth contacting one of them once you have collected all your evidence.

Remember councillors like all politicians like point scoring.

misterdave wrote: »

Finally does anyone know how long councils are legally bound to store emails before deleting them?

About 6 years as the others have stated.

jonesMUFCforever

Thanks for the information olly300 - very useful.
I have one councillor in my ward - live in rural area.

Our council have been on local tv so many times due to maladministration I would not trust any of them!

jonnyb

The DPA governs information that can be used to identify a living individual. In this case, the lack of your name means that there is probably no breach of the DPA. The account number itself is not enough to identfy you to anyone uninvolved.

My personal stance would be to send a seriously worded email to the 2 idiots involved, warning them that I would be complaining. Might as well get them scared in anticipation. Then I would follow up with a full subject data access request for £10. Maybe even consider the local press ?