In November 2018, my client Michael Grampion was arrested by Merseyside Police on suspicion of raping his estranged wife, an allegation he emphatically denied. He was taken to Copy Lane Police Station where he was processed. At this time he provided his personal details including his home address.
During his detention, Michael was interviewed (during which he denied the offence) and was obliged to provide a variety of personal samples. He was then released under investigation.
In early December 2018, a decision was made that no further action should be taken due to insufficient evidence. The Custody Record recorded that “Bail cancelled and postal service sent out to suspect’s home address”.
The Notice was in fact sent not to Michael’s home address, but his place of work. It stated that Michael had been “recently investigated” for an offence of “Rape a woman 16 years of age or over” and that there was “insufficient evidence to provide a realistic conviction”.
Michael was employed as a Senior Manager for a large regional business that has a central operation site.
All correspondence for my client, unless marked confidential, was opened by reception staff at the organisation’s head office and then passed on to his PA.
Michael was mortified that he had received notification at work and highly embarrassed at the thought that this highly sensitive information had been seen by multiple work colleagues.
Michael had never in fact provided his employers address to the Police, precisely to ensure that sensitive personal information was not seen by third parties.
Following notification at this work address, Michael received further notices/letters from Merseyside Police but correctly sent to his home address.
I brought a claim on behalf of my client against Merseyside Police who following investigation agreed to pay to my client substantial damages and his legal costs for the distress caused by reason of their data breach.
All names changed.
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