Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach Compensation Claims
Recently, it was revealed that the Norfolk and Suffolk police were involved in a data breach that affected the personal data of 1,230 witnesses and victims of crime. In this guide, we discuss how this breach occurred and what personal data was potentially affected.
We also define what a personal data breach is, and when an individual could make a claim for data breach compensation. A personal data breach can impact you in a number of ways including both your mental well-being and financial loss.
Following this, our guide will explore the compensation that you could potentially pursue if you were affected by a personal data breach, and how solicitors and other legal professionals value the different areas of your claim.
Finally, we’ll discuss how a No Win No Fee solicitor could help you proceed with your case, provided it’s valid. Continue reading to learn more about the Norfolk and Suffolk Police data breach. Or, get in touch to enquire about making a claim today:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Use the live chat feature
- Contact us online
A Guide To The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach
Select A Section
- About The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach
- Could You Claim Compensation For The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach?
- How Could The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach Impact You?
- Data Breach Compensation Payouts, Settlements And Amounts
- How Our Data Breach Solicitors Could Help You
- Find Out More About The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach
About The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach
On August 15th 2023, it was revealed that the Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies have admitted breaching the data of 1,230 people. The breach occurred when responding to a Freedom of Information request (also known as an FOI request). This is similar to the recent Police Service of Northern Ireland data breach in which personal data was compromised when responding to an FOI request.
The Norfolk and Suffolk police data breach occurred when a technical issue led to raw data, belonging to each of the constabularies, was included with the files provided as part of FOI requests. This request was regarding criminal statistics between April 2021 and March 2022.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/15/norfolk-and-suffolk-police-identify-data-breach
What Information Did The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach Affect?
In a statement released by the Suffolk Constabulary, the force confirmed that 1,230 people had been affected by the breach. The data impacted included information held on a specific police system and related to crime reports. It includes personal identifiable information on victims, witnesses and suspects of hate crimes, domestic incidents, sexual assault and other sexual offences and robberies.
Personal data is any information that could identify you as a person, such as your postage address and email address, name, and phone number. There is also another type of personal data which is given extra protection due to it’s sensitive nature, called special category data. This can include data concerning your health, including medical information and data concerning your sexuality.
Additionally, extra protection is also given to the personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences or other related security measures. This is known as criminal offence data. Whilst this doesn’t cover information about other individuals, including victims and witnesses of crime, this is still likely to be sensitive and particular care should be taken when processing it as it can cause more significant and detrimental effects on these individuals.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) set up to uphold the rights and freedoms of data subjects in the UK, is investigating the incident. They have said in a statement that the incident highlights how important it is to have robust measures in place to protect personal information, especially when the data is so sensitive.
Contact our team today to learn more about the potential steps that you could take if you were affected by the Norfolk and Suffolk Police data breach.
Could You Claim Compensation For The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach?
A personal data breach can be defined as a security incident that affects the availability, integrity, or confidentiality of your personal data.
As mentioned certain types of personal data including special category and criminal offence data are given extra protection under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA). These pieces of legislation protect the personal data of UK residents and dictate the steps that data controllers and data processors must take when processing your personal data. Data controllers decide why and how they will process your personal data and instruct data processors to do so on their behalf.
In order to form the basis of a valid data breach claim, you must be able to prove that:
- Data controllers or data processors did not comply with the UK GDPR and DPA 2018.
- This led to a breach that affected your personal data.
- You suffered financial loss or mental harm as a result.
If you have evidence that you were harmed as a result of your personal data being shared in the Norfolk and Suffolk Police data breach, contact our team of advisors today to discuss the potential steps you could take.
How Could The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach Impact You?
A police data breach can have serious consequences. These consequences can be both mental and financial.
First, we’ll discuss the potential mental effects of a personal data breach. Victims and witnesses of crimes may already suffer from mental health issues related to crime; for example, domestic abuse victims may live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A breach of this data could result in an exacerbation of PTSD. Witnesses, victims, and suspects may also experience fear, anxiety, and stress at their details being compromised.
Due to the types of information that have been compromised and to whom this information belongs, for example, victims of violent crimes and witnesses, these data subjects may feel unsafe in their homes and need to relocate. Or, those with mental health issues may need to seek counselling, all of which could impact them financially.
If you have evidence that you’ve been impacted due to your personal data being compromised in the Norfolk and Suffolk police data breach, please contact our team to discuss the potential action you could take.
Data Breach Compensation Payouts, Settlements And Amounts
Generally, data breach compensation can be split into two heads: material damage compensation, and non-material damage compensation.
Firstly, non-material damage refers to the impact on your mental health by the breach. For example, a personal data breach can not only make existing mental health problems worse, but it can also cause anxiety, depression, and general distress.
When a legal professional values a claim for non-material damage, they might refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that lists psychological injuries of varying severities besides guideline compensation amounts. The table below illustrates some of these guidelines, but please note that these amounts are not guaranteed. The actual amount of compensation that you could receive for a personal data breach can vary on a case-to-case basis.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation Bracket – Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Psychiatric Harm | The prognosis is very poor, with marked problems affecting all areas of life. | £54,830 – £115,730 |
| Moderately Severe Psychiatric Harm | There is a more optimistic prognosis than in more severe cases, despite significant problems affecting several areas of the person’s life. | £19,070 – £54,830 |
| Moderate Psychiatric Harm | A good prognosis is present with an improvement in symptoms. | £5,860 – £19,070 |
| Less Severe Psychiatric Harm | Consideration is given to the length of time affected by symptoms, and the impact they had. | £1,540 – £5,860 |
| Severe PTSD | There is no remaining ability to work or function at the pre-trauma level. | £59,860 – £100,670 |
| Moderately PTSD | There is a better prognosis, as there is some chance of recovery with professional help. | £23,150 – £59,860 |
| Moderate PTSD | A large recovery occurs, and the remaining effects are not significantly disabling. | £8,180 – £23,150 |
| Less Severe PTSD | Minor symptoms persist despite an otherwise virtually complete recovery. | £3,950 – £8,180 |
Material Damage Compensation
Material damage refers to the financial losses you have experienced as a result of the breach. For example, you may be able to claim back the cost of counselling or having to move to a new address or change your job.
Similarly, if your financial information is included in a data breach, then you could claim for the cost of credit card or debit card fraud. This could also include damage to your credit score, and illegal purchases made on your accounts.
For more information on claiming compensation for a data breach, contact our team today. Or, read on to learn more about the steps you may be able to take if you were affected by the Norfolk and Suffolk Police data breach.
How Our Data Breach Solicitors Could Help You
You may not know where to start when it comes to making a claim, but our solicitors are here to help. Working with a solicitor can come with many benefits; for example, a solicitor can help you collect evidence, which is crucial for supporting your claim. Our solicitors have years of collective experience, and are experts in data breach law. They also take on claims from all over the country, which means you aren’t limited to working with a solicitor local to you.
Our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis, and could offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means you could access their services without paying any upfront fees, or paying a fee for their continuing work. Similarly, if your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t pay a fee for their work on your claim.
In the case of a successful claim, your solicitor takes a success fee. They deduct this fee from your compensation as a small percentage. However, there is a legal cap in place, which helps to ensure that you keep the majority of your award.
Speak To Our Team
Our team of helpful advisors are here to help. They can answer any questions you have surrounding the data breach claims process. When you get in touch, a member of our team can evaluate your case for free. If you have a valid claim, they may connect you with one of our expert solicitors. To learn more:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Use the live chat feature
- Contact us online
Find Out More About The Norfolk And Suffolk Police Data Breach
For more helpful guides surrounding personal data breach claims:
- Find out how to claim for a social services data breach
- Learn about claiming for a children’s services data breach with our guide.
- Get help making a data breach claim if a teacher breached your child’s data with our article.
Or, for further resources:
Thank you for reading our guide on the potential steps you could take if you have evidence that you were affected by the Norfolk and Suffolk Police data breach. If you have any other questions, call our team on the number above.
