Freedom of Info Request

todayisagreatday

I'm not sure this is the right place to ask but I'm worried about how my information has been used.
Over 15 years ago I was in an abusive relationship. The police were involved and on their advice I moved in with my parents, changed my phone number and that was that. I never returned. My new phone number was given to the police as my ex continued to make threats to my parents and there was police involvement.
A few days ago I had a call very late at night (past 10pm) asking me to call in relation to (insert ex's name here). I returned the call, had a very nervous wait whilst an officer called me back to be advised my ex needed 'some help and support, a friend to chat to' (he's an abusive alcoholic and although he is married his ex left him and has a restraining order). There is a whole issue around why they felt it appropriate to call me after this time and why they used my number for this purpose and I've lodged a formal complaint.

What I'm worried about is what information is stored on me and for what purpose and if it could effect what information other people can see on me. Would an FOI request be able to give me more detail on what information is available on me.

ElephantBoy57

I would think the Police would be able to contact anyone if there was an urgent need.

Maybe your ex told the Police a false story and they believed him?

Comms69

Well firstly, no. An FOI is for Public information, not private. You would want to do a Subject Access Request.

BUT that wouldn't give you the information you want anyway. AND in anycase you cannot have the information removed anyway.

The reality is that if you dont want them to have your number, get a new number. 

Every information request on police systems is logged. Every key stroke is logged. It's very unlikely your information is in anyway compromised. 

todayisagreatday

ElephantBoy57 said:

I would think the Police would be able to contact anyone if there was an urgent need.

Maybe your ex told the Police a false story and they believed him?

No, when the officer rung me back he said 'I realise it was inappropriate of me to contact you'. He did say he had removed my details. There is a whole seperate issue of why they used my number which had only ever been given to them in relation to incidents as a victim of my ex to contact me because he was having some form of alcohol fuelled crisis 15 years later. 

todayisagreatday

Comms69 said:

Well firstly, no. An FOI is for Public information, not private. You would want to do a Subject Access Request.

BUT that wouldn't give you the information you want anyway. AND in anycase you cannot have the information removed anyway.

The reality is that if you dont want them to have your number, get a new number. 

Every information request on police systems is logged. Every key stroke is logged. It's very unlikely your information is in anyway compromised. 

I will do a subject access request. I've been assured my information has not been released to my ex but I was worried it could have some impact on my career, etc.

Comms69

todayisagreatday said:

ElephantBoy57 said:

I would think the Police would be able to contact anyone if there was an urgent need.

Maybe your ex told the Police a false story and they believed him?

No, when the officer rung me back he said 'I realise it was inappropriate of me to contact you'. He did say he had removed my details. There is a whole seperate issue of why they used my number which had only ever been given to them in relation to incidents as a victim of my ex to contact me because he was having some form of crisis. 

I dont see the relevance. Sounds like a response officer dealing with a crisis. Your ex said you could maybe help, the officer made contact at that moment. Thereafter a PNC check showed that a marker against your name meant it was inappropriate and he's apologised.

I can guarantee you though, that your details have 100% NOT been removed. That would be massively inappropriate (and frankly illegal on his behalf)

Comms69

todayisagreatday said:

Comms69 said:

Well firstly, no. An FOI is for Public information, not private. You would want to do a Subject Access Request.

BUT that wouldn't give you the information you want anyway. AND in anycase you cannot have the information removed anyway.

The reality is that if you dont want them to have your number, get a new number. 

Every information request on police systems is logged. Every key stroke is logged. It's very unlikely your information is in anyway compromised. 

I will do a subject access request. I've been assured my information has not been released to my ex but I was worried it could have some impact on my career, etc.

In what way? Happy to explain, but it's obviously massive; so specific questions are better

todayisagreatday

Comms69 said:

todayisagreatday said:

ElephantBoy57 said:

I would think the Police would be able to contact anyone if there was an urgent need.

Maybe your ex told the Police a false story and they believed him?

No, when the officer rung me back he said 'I realise it was inappropriate of me to contact you'. He did say he had removed my details. There is a whole seperate issue of why they used my number which had only ever been given to them in relation to incidents as a victim of my ex to contact me because he was having some form of crisis. 

I dont see the relevance. Sounds like a response officer dealing with a crisis. Your ex said you could maybe help, the officer made contact at that moment. Thereafter a PNC check showed that a marker against your name meant it was inappropriate and he's apologised.

I can guarantee you though, that your details have 100% NOT been removed. That would be massively inappropriate (and frankly illegal on his behalf)

My ex did not say I could help. He did not give my details. The officer accessed my details, not because my ex had told them to. 

I have a complaint with the IOPC. I was told when I was on the phone they my details had been deleted and were no longer associated with him. That's my worry that they are associated with him and if this will impact on me (I guess I'm thinking like credit history can have an impact - I covered that already and have no issues there).  I will certainly check that and when the Sergeant calls me regarding my complaint. I will do a subject access request to see what information is stored. 

Thanks

Comms69

todayisagreatday said:

Comms69 said:

todayisagreatday said:

ElephantBoy57 said:

I would think the Police would be able to contact anyone if there was an urgent need.

Maybe your ex told the Police a false story and they believed him?

No, when the officer rung me back he said 'I realise it was inappropriate of me to contact you'. He did say he had removed my details. There is a whole seperate issue of why they used my number which had only ever been given to them in relation to incidents as a victim of my ex to contact me because he was having some form of crisis. 

I dont see the relevance. Sounds like a response officer dealing with a crisis. Your ex said you could maybe help, the officer made contact at that moment. Thereafter a PNC check showed that a marker against your name meant it was inappropriate and he's apologised.

I can guarantee you though, that your details have 100% NOT been removed. That would be massively inappropriate (and frankly illegal on his behalf)

My ex did not say I could help. He did not give my details. The officer accessed my details, not because my ex had told them to. 

I have a complaint with the IOPC. I was told when I was on the phone they my details had been deleted and were no longer associated with him. That's my worry that they are associated with him and if this will impact on me (I guess I'm thinking like credit history can have an impact - I covered that already and have no issues there).  I will certainly check that and when the Sergeant calls me regarding my complaint. I will do a subject access request to see what information is stored. 

Thanks

Ok. 
Records from the Police National Computer cannot be deleted like that. It has to go through a very rigorous process, and basically that didnt happen here. 
In terms of the officer, well if that's true, there's some serious questions in terms of judgment - as this information is 15 years old.

Your association in those terms will have zero effect on you. 

-taff

How would having an abusive ex have an impact on your career? What is your career?

todayisagreatday

Comms69 said:

todayisagreatday said:

Comms69 said:

todayisagreatday said:

ElephantBoy57 said:

I would think the Police would be able to contact anyone if there was an urgent need.

Maybe your ex told the Police a false story and they believed him?

No, when the officer rung me back he said 'I realise it was inappropriate of me to contact you'. He did say he had removed my details. There is a whole seperate issue of why they used my number which had only ever been given to them in relation to incidents as a victim of my ex to contact me because he was having some form of crisis. 

I dont see the relevance. Sounds like a response officer dealing with a crisis. Your ex said you could maybe help, the officer made contact at that moment. Thereafter a PNC check showed that a marker against your name meant it was inappropriate and he's apologised.

I can guarantee you though, that your details have 100% NOT been removed. That would be massively inappropriate (and frankly illegal on his behalf)

My ex did not say I could help. He did not give my details. The officer accessed my details, not because my ex had told them to. 

I have a complaint with the IOPC. I was told when I was on the phone they my details had been deleted and were no longer associated with him. That's my worry that they are associated with him and if this will impact on me (I guess I'm thinking like credit history can have an impact - I covered that already and have no issues there).  I will certainly check that and when the Sergeant calls me regarding my complaint. I will do a subject access request to see what information is stored. 

Thanks

Ok. 
Records from the Police National Computer cannot be deleted like that. It has to go through a very rigorous process, and basically that didnt happen here. 
In terms of the officer, well if that's true, there's some serious questions in terms of judgment - as this information is 15 years old.

Your association in those terms will have zero effect on you. 

Thanks that is helpful gives me some direction on what sort of questions to raise in the call. Yes poor judgement indeed which triggered a very emotional breakdown. In what circumstances an officer thought it was appropriate to contact a DV victim to give support to the person who made their life a living hell and made threats to their family is beyond me!