Cabbies' personal details posted on council website

Published on Tuesday 7 September 2010 13:49

THE personal details and criminal convictions of taxi drivers have been published online after a council blunder.

Full details of licensing applications - including convictions ranging from minor driving offences to theft, assault and drug dealing - appeared on East Lothian Council's website along with the names and addresses of members of the public who had lodged complaints.

The private details, to be considered at a licensing meeting in Haddington today, were quickly removed from the site after a call from a member of the public, but not before a handful of people had accessed the information.

A council spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, due to staff error, these private papers appeared on the public section of the council's committee web pages for a short period.

"As soon as the relevant council officials were informed of the error, the papers were removed from the website and the UK Information Commissioner's office was immediately notified of the breach in data protection.

"This was a serious error on the part of the council. We have sent letters to the individuals named in the papers apologising unreservedly for any distress caused. Following an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, we have also taken steps to improve our procedures to ensure that it does not happen again."

At least one person - who was named as lodging a complaint against a taxi driver - said he would be now be lodging an official complaint against the council.

"I think it shows negligence by East Lothian Council not to have got in touch with me - it should have been the first thing they did. I am devastated that my address and telephone number have appeared online and will be contacting my solicitor and East Lothian Council.

"The problem is that the (taxi driver] who I was complaining about in the first place could get to know where I live. It was meant to be confidential.

"I now find myself where someone put my name over the internet. I'm gutted about it and I am going to be seeking legal advice and I want an inquiry."

Dunbar ward councillor Norman Hampshire said action could be taken by the Information Commission and the council "could be in real trouble".

East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan said the error was "unfortunate" and that an internal inquiry had already been concluded.