The Data Protection Act 1998 (“the DPA”) is intended to protect personal data in both manual and electronic form.  It gives effect to the EU Data Protection Directive (“the Directive”), which aims to protect personal privacy during an era when personal information is increasingly stored in computerised records.

The DPA impacts on all individuals and organisations that store or use personal data.  The DPA does not therefore relate solely to the employment relationship, but it does have particular relevance in this field. Companies collate a great deal of information (“data”) regarding individuals before, during and after their engagement, for example from monitoring, references, and disciplinary investigations and sanctions.

N.B. Employers who use vehicle monitoring systems should have a policy covering this. Contact us if you would like a policy for this purpose.