Data laws lead to new £40k job
NEW data protection legislation has led to the creation of a £40,000 post.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw signed off on the appointment of a data protection officer (DPO) because of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force this week.
The £40,000-a-year role had to be filled or the office would be in breach of the law and at risk of sanctions from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
GDPR is a new data protection framework for the EU. It also addresses the export of personal data outside the EU and Area.
The GDPR aims to give control to citizens and residents over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU.
The legislation requires all public authorities to appoint a data protection officer to inform and advise the organisation and its employees about their obligation to comply European Economic with GDPR.
They must also monitor compliance. For serious breaches, the Information Commissioner can issue penalty notices of up to £500,000.
Under GDPR this could be up to £20m or 4% of annual turnover – whichever is the greater sum.
Carl Melling, of Lancashire Constabulary, has been appointed to the role and will report directly to OPCC director Angela Harrison.
In a report to Mr Grunshaw, she said: “Importantly, the GDPR specifically allows public authorities to share the DPO role with other organisations including other local authorities.
“In this instance the OPCC would propose to share a DPO with Lancashire Constabulary.
“The GDPR will introduce a duty on the DPO to report certain types of data breaches to the relevant supervisory authority and, in some cases, to the individuals affected.
“Also under GDPR a breach is more than just the loss of data: inappropriate access to personal data due to the lack of internal controls is also deemed a breach.
“A contribution to the post of DPO of £40,000 for 2018/19 will be made to Lancashire Constabulary.
“Thereafter this will be absorbed into the ongoing budget for the constabulary.”