State snoopers reveal names and addresses of ‘at-risk’ kids
THE SNP’s Named Person scheme has been plunged into further chaos after a ‘staggering’ leak of children’s private data.
The names, addresses, schools, dates of birth and family details of vulnerable children were published online by a council piloting the introduction of state guardians.
The breach was reported and the page taken offline, but the Information Commissioner’s Office is now investigating. Dundee City Council could face a £500,000 fine.
It is a blow for John Swinney, days after the Education Secretary tried to resurrect the policy. He was forced to halt it in August, after the UK Supreme Court ruled it would breach children’s human rights.
Last week, Mr Swinney introduced scaled back plans that would only see information shared in ‘exceptional circumstances’, with plans for new legislation this year.
But the news about the SNP-run council raises serious doubts over its ability to handle confidential data.
Children featured in a ‘user guide’ to Getting It Right for Every Child, the wider SNP policy which includes Named Person.
The information was in a section called What We Do. One of the youngsters was on the child protection register, which identifies those at risk of sexual, physical or emotional harm, or neglect. His first name, date of birth and school were made public, along with his mother’s and brother’s first names.
The webpage also included two addresses – potentially home and care – and made clear the boy was ‘currently looked after’.
A second child’s full name, date of birth, address, school and several siblings’ names were published. A third’s full name and school were revealed.
Simon Calvert of NO2NP said: ‘The Scottish Government and the bureaucrats backing this scheme accused us of exaggeration and scaremongering. These shocking revelations prove our concerns were well-founded and accurate.
‘This demonstrates at least one local authority running a Named Person scheme has shown a crassly insensitive and careless disregard for the private data of children and their families. It is breathtaking that a boy on the child protection register has had his details published on a council website.’
Scottish Tory education spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘This is a staggering breach of privacy, which opened up these young people and their families to all kinds of risks.
‘It is clear that privacy and data protection issues haven’t been properly thought through. It’s an unnecessary and unwanted scheme and it must be dropped.’
Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘This is a deeply worrying incident.
‘Data protection is a serious issue and it beggars belief that it could seemingly be mishandled in this way.’
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: ‘As soon as this issue was brought to our attention, the information was removed from the website.
‘We have approached the Information Commissioner about our data breach to explain exactly how it came about. The council is now looking at its internal procedures to prevent a reoccurrence.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We remain absolutely committed to the Named Person service.
‘Public services must handle, store, process and share sensitive personal information in line with existing laws and guidance.’
‘This is a staggering breach of privacy’