Press Release: Kirklees Council Reported to the Information Commissioner: a malevolent Data Breach

For immediate release

There is an important new twist in the case of Paul Holmes, UNISON National President who was dismissed from Kirklees Council on February 2nd after 48 years’ service. A dossier of 180 Council files about Paul were released to a local newspaper, including hundreds of private documents relating to his employment, together with a full set of the disciplinary papers, correspondence with UNISON and Paul’s medical records. This is a very serious data breach under GDPR regulations – probably criminal.

Paul’s solicitor has reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and written to the Council seeking an explanation. Paul Holmes said “I am appalled at this release of private information which was timed to coincide with the last day of my disciplinary hearing on December 1st 2021. There is no doubt that the information was released with malevolent intent. On top of everything else that has happened this has come as a great shock to me. An urgent investigation is required by the Council into this breach.”

Paul is appealing his dismissal by Kirklees Council on the grounds that it represents a case of victimization for Trade Union activities. Paul has been Kirklees UNISON Branch Secretary for 33 years and was recently re-elected at the branch’s Annual General Meeting.