Requests for Personal Information

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you already have a statutory right to have access to personal data we hold about you on computer or on paper. You also have the right to expect us, as the data controller, to ensure that data is:

	Processed fairly and lawfully
	Obtained for specific and lawful purposes
	Adequate, relevant and not excessive
	Not kept for longer than is necessary
	Processed in accordance with the rights of the data subject
	Kept secure
	Not transferred abroad unless to countries with adequate data protection laws

You are also entitled to be told whether we hold data about you, and if we do:

	To be given the description of the data in question.
	To be told for what purposes the data is processed.
	To be told the recipients, or classes of recipients, to whom the data is or may be disclosed.
	To receive a copy of the information with any unintelligible terms, acronyms or codes explained.
For the purposes of the 1998 Act, ‘personal data’ is information that relates to a living identifiable person. The person or organisation who controls the purpose and manner in which data is processed is the ‘data controller’. More information on the Data Protection Act can be found on the website of the Information Commissioner: www.informationcommisioner.gov.uk
It might help you to know that police operations are the responsibility of the Chief Constable and, therefore, information on individuals is more likely to be held by the Constabulary than the Police Authority. You have the right to be told by the Constabulary whether any information is held about you on the Police National Computer and a right to a copy of that information. That information will be given to you once proof of your identity is confirmed and a payment of £10 is made. Access to information may be denied if it is held for the prevention or detection of crime or for the apprehension or prosecution of offenders and where release of the information would be likely to be prejudicial to any of these purposes.
If you wish to apply for access to your personal data, contact details are supplied below: Data Protection Officer Information Compliance Unit Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters Stanborough Road Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL8 6XF Telephone: 01707 638436 Fax: 01707 354669 Email: dataprotection@herts.pnn.police.uk

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