UK GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION PROCEDURE 2022

THE BRITISH PALOMINO SOCIETY UK GENERAL DATA PROTECTION PROCEDURE 2022

UK General Data Protection Regulation Procedure (UKUKGDPR)

Purpose of the policy and background to the UK General Data Protection Regulation
This policy explains to all members of the British Palomino Society about UKUKGDPR. Personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly and transparently; collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes; be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for processing; be accurate and kept up to date; be kept only for as long as is necessary for processing and be processed in a manner that ensures its security. This policy updates any previous data protection policy and procedures to include the additional requirements of UKGDPR which apply in the UK from May 2018. The Government have confirmed that despite the UK leaving the EU, UKGDPR will still be a legal requirement. This policy explains the duties and responsibilities of the Society and it identifies the means by which the Society will meet its obligations.

Identifying the roles and minimising risk
UKGDPR requires that all Council members of the Society to understand the implications of UKGDPR and that roles and duties must be assigned. The Society’s council (as a whole) is the data controller and the Society’s Registrar, Treasurer and Office are the Data Protection Officers (DPOs). It is the duty of the DPOs to undertake an information audit and to manage the information collected by the council, the issuing of privacy statements, dealing with requests and complaints raised and also the safe disposal of information. 

UKGDPR requires continued care by all Council members in the sharing of information about individuals, whether as a hard copy or electronically. A breach of the regulations could result in The Society facing a fine from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for the breach itself and also to compensate the individual(s) who could be adversely affected. Therefore, the handling of information is seen as medium risk to the Society (both financially and reputationally) and one which must be included in the Risk Management Policy of the Society.   Such risk can be minimised by undertaking an information audit, issuing privacy statements, maintaining privacy impact assessments (an audit of potential data protection risks with new projects), minimising who holds data protected information and the council undertaking training in data protection awareness.

Data breaches
One of the duties assigned to the DPOs is the investigation of any breaches.  Personal data breaches should be reported to the DPOs for investigation. The DPOs will conduct this with the support of the Society’s Council. Investigations must be undertaken within one month of the report of a breach. Procedures are in place to detect, report and investigate a personal data breach. The ICO will be advised of a breach (within 3 days) where it is likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals – if, for example, it could result in discrimination, damage to reputation, financial loss, loss of confidentiality, or any other significant economic or social disadvantage. Where a breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, the DPOs will also have to notify those concerned directly.

It is unacceptable for non-authorised users to access IT using the registrar’s or treasurer’s log-in passwords or to use equipment while logged on. It is unacceptable for volunteers and members to use IT in any way that may cause problems for the Society, for example the discussion of internal council matters on social media sites could result in reputational damage for the Society and to individuals.

Privacy Notices
Being transparent and providing accessible information to individuals about how the Society uses personal data is a key element of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UKGDPR). The most common way to provide this information is in a privacy notice. This is a notice to inform individuals about what the society does with their personal information. A privacy notice will contain the name and contact details of the data controller and Data Protection Officers, the purpose for which the information is to be used and the length of time for its use. It should be written clearly and should advise the individual that they can, at any time, withdraw their agreement for the use of this information. Issuing of a privacy notice must be detailed on the Information Audit kept by the council. The Society will adopt a privacy notice to use, although some changes could be needed depending on the situation, for example where children are involved. All privacy notices must be verifiable.

Information Audit
The DPOs must undertake an information audit which details the personal data held, where it came from, the purpose for holding that information and with whom the Society will share that information. This will include information held electronically or as a hard copy. Information held could change from year to year with different activities, and so the information audit will be reviewed at least annually or when the society undertakes a new activity. The information audit review should be conducted ahead of the review of this policy and the reviews should be minuted.

Individuals’ Rights
UKGDPR gives individuals rights with some enhancements to those rights already in place:
• the right to be informed
• the right of access
• the right to rectification
• the right to erasure
• the right to restrict processing
• right to data portability
• the right to object
• the right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling.

 The two enhancements of UKGDPR are that individuals now have a right to have their personal data erased (sometimes known as the ‘right to be forgotten’) where their personal data is no longer necessary in relation to the purpose for which it was originally collected, and data portability must be done free of charge. Data portability refers to the ability to move, copy or transfer data easily between different computers.

If a request is received to delete information, then the DPOs must respond to this request within a month. The DPOs have the delegated authority from the Society’s Council to delete information.

If a request is considered to be manifestly unfounded then the request could be refused or a charge may apply.

Children

There is special protection for the personal data of a child. The age when a child can give their own consent is 16. If the Society requires consent from young people under 16, the council must obtain a parent or guardian’s consent in order to process the personal data lawfully. Consent forms for children age 16 plus, must be written in language that they will understand.

Summary

The main actions arising from this policy are:

• The council must be registered with the ICO.

• A copy of this policy will be available on the Society’s website.

• An information audit will be conducted and reviewed at least annually.

• Privacy notices must be issued.

• The Society will manage the process.

This policy document is written with current information and advice. It will be reviewed at least annually or when further advice is issued by the ICO.

All Council members, Society members, office personnel and volunteers are expected to comply with this policy at all times to protect privacy, confidentiality and the interests of the Society.