The UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO)Graham SmithDeputy Information Commissioner and Director of Freedom of Information

29 September 2010

ICO History (1)Established 1985 as Data Protection RegistrarTo regulate and enforce Data Protection Act 1984Computerised records onlyRegister of data controllers

ICO History (2)Becomes Data Protection Commissioner 2000Revised Data Protection Act 1998To comply with EC Directive 95/46Extends to manual records in a relevant filing system

ICO History (3)Becomes Information Commissioner 2001Remit includes Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000Good practice responsibilities and publication schemesFully in force including complaint handling 2005Environmental Information Regulations 2005 (EIR)

The Information CommissionerCorporation sole powers and duties in one personIndependent of GovernmentReports to Parliament5 year term of officeUp to 2 deputy commissioners

ResourcesAll staff are employees of the CommissionerData protection funding from notification feesFOI/EIR funding from government grantCannot switch funding or generate income for profit

ICO Mission

To uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals

DP and FOILegal powers and duties similarPromotion of good practiceComplaint handling and enforcementBut can order FOI disclosures and prosecute for DP offences

ICO DepartmentsOperationsPolicy DeliveryStrategic LiaisonCorporate AffairsOrganisational DevelopmentFinance, IT, Internal Compliance

ICO Original Building

ICO New Extension

Interior (1)

Interior (2)

Data Protection Casework2009-2010Cases received-33,234Cases closed 2009-2010-32,714Closed within 30 days-14,267 (43%)Prosecutions- 9Enforcement Notices- 15

FOI/Environmental InformationCasework 2009-2010Cases received-3,734Cases closed-4,196Closed within 30 days-1,887 (45%)Regulatory/Enforcement actions 3

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