It is emerging that several Local Authorities and at least one Police Authority have breached the Data Protection Act by unlawfully supplying Common Purpose with the detailed names and addresses of people asking for information under the Freedom of Information Act. Common Purpose has sent several letters (available on this site) suggesting authorities contact Common Purpose if the authority receives FOI requests about CP. Common Purpose encourages them to do this by saying that individuals are asking questions about CP, when in fact they are quite rightly asking for information concerning the Local Authority's activity and expenditure with CP. Common Purpose has no legal right to interfere in the FOI process, nor to coerce Local Authority officers and officials (including the police) to release data protected under the Data Protection Act. It is understood that formal complaints about the breaches of Data Protection are being made by several members of the public. Watch this space.......
