Domestic violence victim’s details shared in data error
ADOMESTIC violence victim says she has been left ‘terrified’ after her personal details were sent to the wrong address by Rochdale council officials.
The woman - who we are referring to as ‘Susan’ - suffered years of abuse, at times being ‘used as a punchbag’, before fleeing her home.
Shortly after, she suffered a debilitating stroke. Susan has been rebuilding her life - and confidence with the help of the Middleton-based Moving On service.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands she is one of at least 10 people who use the service - which supports adults with acquired disabilities - whose confidentiality appears to have been breached.
Rochdale council says it is aware an error concerning data protection has been made an is investigating the matter.
Last week, Susan received a letter containing the minutes of a Zoom meeting about the future of Moving On - which has been closed since March - between service users and adult social care bosses.
She soon realised someone else’s details were on the back of it.
She then discovered her name, address and telephone number had been sent to a third party.
They were then shared in a now-deleted Facebook post in a misguided attempt for help.
After speaking to other people who received the letter, Susan said it became apparent there had been a serious mistake.
Susan said the thought of her details being ‘out there’ has caused her immense distress.
“When I rang adult care I ended up having a bit of a breakdown due to my situation with domestic violence,” she said.
Susan said she was the victim of violence and controlling behaviour for ‘a long time’ and it has had a lasting impact on her.
“The last time he locked me in the bedroom, took away the phone and internet and I could not get out of the house for two days,” she said.
“I was locked in a room and basically used as a punchbag.”
Her tormentor finally released her and she fled, leaving behind all her belongings.
At first, she went to stay with a family member before Moving On helped to find her a new home.
The Women’s Housing Action Group (WHAG) then supported her to put in measures so her abuser could not make contact by telephone.
Having made so much progress over recent years, the data breach has been a hammer-blow to Susan’s feelings of safety and security. “The day after my meltdown I felt worse.
“I felt like I had been hit by a train,” she said.
“It just brings it all back. Adult care is supposed to be hot on stuff like data protection.
“It’s just knocked me back so much, I have been a nervous wreck.”
Susan only usually goes out once a week to get her shopping.
She said she has been profoundly affected.
“I can’t explain it, I’m terrified just know it has happened,” she added.
“It’s a small world, it’s surprising how many people know someone else who knows you.
“It’s just the thought it could have fallen into the wrong hands.
“It’s given me flashbacks - it’s taken me right back there.”
While she acknowledges the chances of her abuser getting hold of her address are ‘very slim’, she says the situation has been devastating.
“I had been through therapy, I had been through so much to get where I am today,” she said.
Steve Blezard, the council’s adult care director of operations, issued a statement on the matter.
He said: “We have recently contacted a small number of residents over a possible data breach that is being investigated.
“We have apologised for this and already put in some initial measures to help ensure it does not happen again, with any further changes to our procedures to be made on completion of the investigation.”
Some learners with Moving On are campaigning against changes to the service set to be introduced under a shake-up of adult social care.
The council has confirmed the service will be ‘delivered differently’ but has not yet outlined its exact plans.