Do all DWP staff have access to private records

flutterby_lil

The DWP do management checks at random on every (say 100 for a guide) certian number of records accessed. The staff who has accessed that record has to fill out a form to say why they have accessed that record. If they haven't got a valid work reason then like others have said they could be in trouble.

Not every record is checked though that is accessed so she *could* possibly get away with it although under dtat protection she has no right to access or speak about what she sees.

real1314

rotoguys wrote: »

Take it from me that they could have found the file.

Do you honestly think that anybody under investigation could only be traced with their NI number?

It don't work like that.

We had links to the DVLA, Passport Office, Immigration and many other computer data bases including those used by the retail industry - the two main reward cards at the two main supermarkets!!

Mind you the only link we didn't have was to the PNC. For some obscure reason the Home Office liked to keep that one to themselves, although we had to apply for a search which was never questioned.

This makes it sound like you had reasonably instant access to all of this data, but the Official Secrets Act hasn't been a requirement for a decade or more, but some of these databases were not available through any direct access that far back. Which is odd.

DVLA is hardly a difficult database to get access to - anyone with just cause can obtain info from it.

As for supermarket databases, I'm fairly sure their terms would prevent them handing over data without good reason - you'd need to have reasonable suspicion of an offence at the very least.

Perhaps you should explain exactly what the basis of your access was otherwise it may alarm people with such a lax approach to data security, not least of which the ICO!

:cool:

matt_bomber

my friend worked for DWP and he access his ex-gfs recoreds, and as a result, he lost his job.

atomicsheep

matt_bomber wrote: »

my friend worked for DWP and he access his ex-gfs recoreds, and as a result, he lost his job.

I think Matt sums it all up lol.....She could have access (although she works for a dept that is unlikely to have access). Whether she chooses to use her access (if she has any) is another question.

I've read many reports of staff being sacked for looking at files they shouldn't. So if this woman had the level of access needed then yes she could just go straight into your record....But its a big risk for her.

Seeing as you said she's quite high up in the dept, i'd say she wouldnt bother risking her job

Adereterial

StopTheWorld wrote: »

That's interesting! So Benefit Delivery sounds like it actually deals with paying the benefits as well?

Yes, Benefit Delivery is processing and payment.

I don't have access because I don't need it, and each licence cost money, so I don't have a licence. I don't have contact with customers. On the rare occasion I need to look at a customer's record I have one of my team take me through the screens.

If someone works in the corporate centre they're unlikely to have any customer access at all - I doubt the relevant systems are even installed on their PCs.