James Walsh with one of the emails. Picture: Dieter Perry

Haringey housing trust brings in external investigator in data breach probe

by Flora Drury Sunday, May 27, 2012
11:00 AM

A Haringey housing trust has called in an independent investigator after the Journal revealed personal data about several its tenants had apparently been leaked to another involved in a neighbour dispute.

Hornsey Housing Trust (HHT) has asked an external investigator to review the case of James Walsh, who claims emails he had sent to the council were then sent to a neighbour, who had requested them under the Freedom of Information Act.

As the Journal previously reported, Mr Walsh’s details including his name, address and personal information had not been removed from emails - which detailed 16 months of anti-social behaviour complaints against the neighbour.

The emails were then posted through his letterbox in Dickenson Road, Crouch End. He has since been moved to another address by the trust.

Last week, HHT confirmed it may have fallen below the standards required by the Data Protection Act.

HHT chief executive Steve Scotland said: “As a result of our own internal investigation, it appears we may have fallen below the highest standards on this occasion and there may have been a breach of our code.

“We are in the process of ascertaining whether any personal data was released and we are appointing an external investigator to review the complaint as a matter of urgency.

“All our staff have been reminded of the correct procedures, and have received training where necessary. We have asked our solicitors to review our data protection procedures to see if they can be improved.”

Mr Scotland assured the Journal HHT - which has 385 houses, both general and supported, in north London - took the security of personal information “very seriously” and any tenants affected by any breach will receive an apology.