{"id":404,"date":"2019-09-16T09:40:20","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T08:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/?page_id=404"},"modified":"2022-03-09T14:24:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T14:24:58","slug":"data-protection-and-freedom-of-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/services\/depositing\/data-protection-and-freedom-of-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Protection and Freedom of Information"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Freedom of Information legislation grants the right of access to information held by public bodies, such as Devon County Council, district and parish councils, schools, hospitals and the police. \u00a0Data Protection legislation aims to protect personal information about living individuals. \u00a0This legislation also entitles you to a copy of personal information that is held about you.<\/p>\n

Due to these legislations, certain archives held at the Heritage Centre are under restricted access. \u00a0This is largely to protect people that are named within them. \u00a0It is reasonable to assume a lifetime of 100 years, so we need to restrict access to these records until the end of a person\u2019s lifetime. \u00a0Therefore, records relating to infants, such as Children\u2019s Home registers, are closed for 100 years; records relating to children, such as school admission registers are closed for 96 years; and records relating to adults, such as personnel registers, are closed for 84 years. \u00a0Exceptions are records containing medical details, which are closed for 100 years, no matter the age of the subject.<\/p>\n

Some depositors have also imposed\u00a0restrictions on access to their records which we hold on their behalf. \u00a0Details of archives with restricted access are listed in the table below. \u00a0Our online catalogue also gives details about access to individual items. Some items may also be restricted due to their condition. \u00a0Wherever possible we will try to assist you to view these records.<\/p>\n

These legislations provide clauses which allow access to records in certain cases. \u00a0For example, you have a right of access to see your own records. \u00a0You may also be able to view records for statistical analysis of historical sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Type of Record<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0Length of Restriction<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
School Records<\/td>\n84 years for staff records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n96 years for pupil records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Court Records<\/td>\n100 years for adult court records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n84 years for other court files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n100 years for juveniles and adoption registers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n100 years for details of sexual offences<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hospital Records<\/td>\n84 years for staff records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n100 years for patients’ medical details<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Workhouse\/Public Assistance Records<\/td>\n100 years for records naming inmates of the workhouse of institution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Devon County Council Records<\/td>\n84 years for staff records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n100 years for Social Service or Children’s Home records etc., which name individuals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Building Control Plans<\/td>\nAbsolute closure for sensitive buildings such as banks, courts and prisons<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Citizens’ Advice Bureau<\/td>\n84 years for case files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Methodist Church Records<\/td>\n30 years for all records not previously on open access in the Church (this is at the request of the Methodist Church)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Catholic Church Registers<\/td>\n110 years (this is at request of the Catholic Church)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Personnel and staff records<\/td>\n84 years for any record containing personal information<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The closure term normally runs from the last date in the record.\u00a0 Therefore, a document that covers the period 1903-1948 and is closed for 100 years will be under restricted access until 1 January 2049.<\/p>\n

How to Access Restricted Records<\/h2>\n

Information About You<\/h3>\n

To request information about you that is held in our archives, you need to complete a Data Subject Access Request Form. \u00a0We will also need to see proof of your identity, and it is helpful if you can provide as much information as possible (for example institutions attended, dates, etc.)\u00a0 If your name has changed from the one which appears in the records, for example after marriage or adoption, we will also require proof of all name changes. Once we have received the form, the Data Protection legislation allows us one calendar month to provide you with the details in a permanent, legible form. \u00a0There is no charge for this service.<\/p>\n

Please note in some circumstances we may need to contact the owner of the records to discuss your application. Where this is the case, we will advise you of this upon receipt of your application.<\/p>\n

Information about a Living Individual, With Their Permission<\/h3>\n

If you need to find out information about a living person, you need their written permission before information can be released. \u00a0Once this permission is granted, a\u00a0Data Subject Access Request Form\u00a0needs to be completed. \u00a0You should enclose the written permission, along with proof of both you and the other individuals\u2019 identity. \u00a0If there has been a name change from the one which appears in the records, for example after marriage or adoption, we will also require proof of all name changes. Once we have received the form, the Data Protection legislation allows us one calendar month to provide you with the details, in a permanent legible form. \u00a0There is no charge for this service.<\/p>\n

Information about a Living Individual, Without Their Permission<\/h3>\n

Freedom of Information and Data Protection legislation do not grant right of access to third party information if that person has not given permission. \u00a0If you wish to see information about other individuals without their permission or cannot prove their death, please write to us explaining what records you wish to see and the reasons for your research. \u00a0We will then reply either granting permission or citing why you cannot view the records.<\/p>\n

Research for Statistical and Historical Analysis<\/h3>\n

Data Protection legislation allows access to records for research, as long as this does not identify individuals. \u00a0For example, if you were studying birth rates, you may be able to view maternity registers to count the numbers of births, twins etc. \u00a0To do this you need to complete a\u00a0Historical Research Form. \u00a0By signing the form, you agree to abide by the principles of Data Protection legislation in terms of your research. \u00a0Unfortunately, we cannot allow records to be copied for the purposes of this research \u2013 they need to be consulted in the searchroom, and they cannot be photocopied or photographed.<\/p>\n

Please note in some circumstances we may need to contact the owner of the records to discuss your application. Where this is the case, we will advise you of this upon receipt of your application.<\/p>\n

Information about a Deceased Individual<\/h3>\n

Data Protection legislation only covers the information of people who are still alive. \u00a0However, sometimes the information you need will be in a register under restricted access, as it may contain information about other individuals who are still alive. \u00a0To access this information, you need to complete a\u00a0Data Subject Form \u2013 Deceased Individual. \u00a0Proof of death needs to be provided before the information can be released. \u00a0If there has been a name change from the one which appears in the records, for example after marriage or adoption, we will also require proof of all name changes. Where possible we will allow you to view this record in the searchroom, but if the information is on a page with details of others then the Research Service will have to copy it for you. \u00a0This is charged at the normal Research Service rate. \u00a0Please see our\u00a0Charges page\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n

Records Closed by the Depositor<\/h3>\n

To use\u00a0these records, please write to us with your request, including the reasons for your research, and we will contact the depositor on your behalf to ask permission for you to see the records.<\/p>\n

Records in a Fragile Condition<\/h3>\n

Some of our archives through age, wear and tear are too fragile for research. Once identified, documents affected by this are noted on our online catalogue. If possible, a member of staff will try and facilitate the consultation of these records, but unfortunately, at times the degradation of the records does not permit this. Fragile records are added to our conservation register.<\/p>\n

Forms<\/h2>\n

Data Subject Access Request Form \u2013 Living Individual<\/a><\/p>\n

Data Subject Access Request Form \u2013 Deceased Individual<\/a><\/p>\n

SWHT Data Protection Access form-historical research<\/a><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introduction Freedom of Information legislation grants the right of access to information held by public bodies, such as Devon County Council, district and parish councils, schools, hospitals and the police. \u00a0Data Protection legislation aims to protect personal information about living individuals. \u00a0This legislation also entitles you to a copy of personal information that is held… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":166,"parent":75,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-404","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=404"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":770,"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/404\/revisions\/770"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swheritage.org.uk\/devon-archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}