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On 15th November, it was reported that Suffolk Police had suffered a major data breach. The breach involved the personal details of sexual assault victims being published on the force’s website and left accessible to the public for three years. Given the extremely sensitive nature of the information and the length of time involved, this breach could have a serious impact on those affected.
If your information has been exposed in the Suffolk Police data breach, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Our expert team has extensive experience in helping those whose data has been mishandled to get the compensation they deserve.
Step 1
Get in touch using the contact form or the details provided throughout the site.
Step 2
We arrange a free consultation with you to discuss your case.
Step 3
If accepted, we will action your case on a no-win, no-fee basis.
The Suffolk Police data breach was first reported by the East Anglian Daily Times, which stated that the data was accessible to the general public for a short period of time on the force’s website. However, it was subsequently revealed that the document containing the information was first published in 2019 and only discovered by a member of the public on 7th November 2022.
Suffolk Police have claimed that “the matter was quickly resolved” once it was brought to their attention, but an investigation has been opened into the incident and remains ongoing. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has also been notified.
Suffolk Rape Crisis, a support organisation for victims of sexual assault in the region, said in a statement that the breach poses “a considerable safety risk” and “could put women at threat of further violence.”
The Suffolk Police data breach revealed a range of personal information of sexual assault victims in the region, including names, dates of birth and addresses. Most troubling was the fact that the breach also exposed details of the alleged sexual offences, which may prove particularly traumatic for those affected. Understandably, failure to adequately protect this kind of data is a serious matter. As the ICO itself stresses, data related to victims or witnesses of crimes requires “particular care”.
In a statement, Suffolk Police clarified that the data related to sexual offences and offences in schools that had been reported between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2019. They also state that only 2-3% of the published investigations contained information that could lead to an individual being identified. However, given the timeframe involved and the fact that Suffolk Police have not revealed the total number of cases, this will likely not serve to reassure those who may have been affected.
It is a requirement of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 that if a data breach poses a high risk to the rights and freedoms of those affected, they must be notified without undue delay. Suffolk Police say that they are “endeavouring to contact those affected at the earliest opportunity to give support, reassurance and offer an apology.”
As a result, it is likely that those affected by the Suffolk Police data breach will be contacted directly by the force. However, it is not clear how long this may take, given that the scale of the breach is not fully known at present. If you are concerned you may have been affected and have yet to be notified, you should contact the force directly for more information.
The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) gives you the right to pursue compensation if a data breach has led to material or non-material damages. This includes if you have suffered distress as a result of the breach. If this applies to you, then you may be able to pursue a compensation claim.
HNK Solicitors has a specialist team of solicitors dedicated to seeking compensation for victims of data breaches. Thanks to our in-depth understanding of the relevant legal statutes and regulations, we can provide you with the best possible chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you decide whether pursuing a compensation claim is the right step for you. We pursue claims on a no-win, no-fee basis, so if your claim isn’t successful, you won’t owe us a penny.
If you’d like to discuss a potential claim, get in touch with us today to discuss your case. You can fill in the contact form on our website or call us on 0151 668 0809.
