How to complain

·     You can make a complaint about how the council has handled your personal data or your data protection rights request by contacting the Data Protection Officer via the Information Management Service (IMS).

The easiest way to submit your complaint is by email to dpo@gloucestershire.gov.uk.

If your complaint relates to a Data Protection Rights Request, such as a SAR, you may also raise your concerns by replying directly to your most recent correspondence.

To help us process your request, please include:

• Your name and contact details
• Name and contact details of any individuals you are complaining on behalf of
• Any relevant reference number (for example, a SAR reference number) if applicable.
• A clear description of your concern or dissatisfaction
• Any supporting information

Complaints may also be raised through other council contact channels. Where this happens, they will be forwarded to the Information Management Service.

Alternatively, please address complaints to:

By Post:  Information Management Service
                 Gloucestershire County Council    
                 1st Floor, Block 4a    
                 Shire Hall, Westgate Street
                 Gloucester, GL1 2TG

Making a complaint on behalf of someone else

You may make a complaint on behalf of another individual, for example a child or vulnerable person. In these cases, we may need to verify your authority to act on their behalf before progressing the complaint.

Where a complaint relates to a child, we will ensure that it is handled in an appropriate and accessible way, taking into account the child’s rights and best interests.

Verifying your identity

To protect your personal data and ensure that information is only disclosed to the correct individual, we may need to verify your identity before progressing your complaint.

Where a complaint is made on behalf of another person, we may also need to confirm your authority to act on their behalf.

Any information requested for verification purposes will be proportionate and used only for this purpose in line with data protection legislation.