What we need and why
We are required by law to protect public funds that we administer. In the course of our Counter Fraud activity we collect the following personal information when you provide it to us:
- your name
- address
- telephone number
This information is held to assist with the prevention and detection of crime, including fraud, and for internal disciplinary investigations. We will also collect personal data required for the assessment or collection of local taxation.
What we do with it
In order to carry out investigations the Counter Fraud Team may obtain and process a variety of information. We may carry out data matching exercises by comparing computer records held by the council or another body in order to identify potentially fraudulent claims and payments.
We carry out data matching in accordance with the principles set out in the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 and Audit Scotland’s Code of Data Matching Practice. Under the data protection law this does not require the consent of the individuals concerned.
We will use any information we hold or obtain in carrying out our investigations in a manner which conforms to the General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018. To the extent required, we will seek to keep your information accurate and up to date and not keep it for longer than is necessary in line with the council’s Retention Schedule and those prescribed retention periods that may be set in statute.
We will make sure that the gathering, holding and use of your personal data are kept to a minimum and in accordance with the terms of this privacy notice. We will not use your personal details for any other purpose, unless otherwise necessary as explained in this statement.
How long we keep it
We keep your personal information in accordance with the Scottish Council on Archives schedules. Personal information will be destroyed after 2 years, unless it pertains to court or disciplinary proceedings in which case they will be retained for 5 years.
Information sharing
If required by applicable law we will share personal information with law enforcement or other authorities such as:
- Police Scotland
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Other local authorities
- Tayside Contracts
- Health bodies
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Scottish Government
- Audit Scotland
These organisations are obliged to keep your details securely and in line with their statutory obligations. We will only disclose information to other partners where necessary, either to comply with a legal obligation, or where permitted under data protection legislation, for example where the disclosure is necessary to carry out a statutory function or where it is in the public interest to do so such as for the prevention and/or detection of crime.
For further information on data matching practice please refer to Audit Scotland's Code of Data Matching Practice.
You should read this service-specific privacy notice in conjunction with the council's Full Privacy Statement.