Data Protection: Legal Definitions
Personal Data
Any personal information, which is processed, is readily accessible and relates either directly or indirectly, to a living, identifiable individual.
Data Subject
Is the individual about whom the personal data relates
Data Controller
Is the name of the organisation which is ultimately responsible for the processing; the person who controls and benefits from the processing.
Processing
Obtaining, recording, holding, carrying out any set of operations on the information or data, including organising, adapting, altering, retrieving, consulting, using, transmitting, disseminating, making available, aligning, combining, blocking, erasing or destroying!
Source
Where data which is entered into a computer system or filing system originates from.
Disclosure/Recipient
Organisations or individuals to whom the data can be given or disclosed.
Subject Access
Anyone who thinks data is being held about them by the Council is entitled to receive a copy of the information or to be told that no data is held about them.
Applicants must identify themselves and specify which data they wish to see. Manual data is exempt from subject access until 2001 but the Council may wish to extend the individual's right to include manual data before this date.
Applications should in the first instance be made in writing to the address on the reverse of this leaflet. The Council has a 'legal obligation' to comply within 40 days of receipt of a subject access request (SAR) with required fee.
Page updated: 27 Jan 2008