Make a data protection complaint

Data protection complaints

We take the protection of your personal information seriously. Details of how we use and protect your data are set out in the council’s privacy notice.

If you have a concern about how your personal data has been handled, you can raise a complaint by emailing [email protected]

You can use this process if, for example, you believe that:

your personal data has not been handled securely
your information was not collected or used fairly or lawfully
you have experienced issues with how we have responded to a subject access request (SAR) or another rights request
your personal data has been kept for longer than necessary

To help us investigate, please tell us:

what happened and when
how this has affected you
what you think we did wrong
what outcome you would like

Time limits

Please raise your complaint as soon as possible and within 3 months of the issue occurring or becoming known to you.

We may accept complaints after this where:

there is a good reason for the delay
we can still investigate fairly

After you complain

We will investigate and aim to respond within 20 working days.

If we cannot meet this timeframe, we will let you know and provide a revised response date.

Protecting your information

When submitting your complaint, only include the personal information necessary for us to investigate. Avoid including unnecessary sensitive details.

Other complaints

If your concern includes issues not related to data protection such as service issue, these will be handled separately under our comments, compliments and complaints process.

If you are not satisfied

If you are unhappy with our response to your complaint, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Online: Your personal information concerns | ICO

In writing to:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Last updated 29 June 2026