Who we are and what we do An introduction to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Who we are and what we do

An introduction to the Information Commissioner’s Office

Welcome

• Meet the Commissioner

• Our role

• The history of our office

• Our relationship with government

• Some facts and figures

• Organogram

The Information Commissioner

• Appointed by the Queen

• Reports to Parliament

• Makes decisions about what our priorities are and how we should achieve the

• Supported by his Management Board

The ICO’s mission

The Information Commissioner’s Office

is the UK’s independent authority

set up to uphold information rights in the public interest,

promoting openness by public bodies

and data privacy for individuals

Legislation

We enforce and oversee the following legislation:

• Data Protection Act 1998

• Freedom of Information Act 2000

• Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations 2003

• Environmental Information Regulations 2004

The ICO’s role

Our role is to:

• Encourage good practice

• Assess eligible complaints

• Advise individuals and organisations

• Take appropriate action where legislation has not been

complied with

Where we have a role

• We are responsible for data protection in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as some international duties

• We are responsible for freedom of information in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and UK-wide public authorities based in Scotland

Our offices

Head office:• Wilmslow, England

Regional offices:• Edinburgh, Scotland • Belfast, Northern Ireland• Cardiff, Wales• London, England

Edinburgh

BelfastWilmslow

CardiffLondon

Our relationship with government

• We are independent of government

• Our Commissioner is appointed by the Queen and reports directly to Parliament

• The Ministry of Justice is the government department responsible for information rights. It finances our freedom of information work and also has some control over how we spend public money, including our salaries.

History of the office

• Established by the Data Protection Act 1984 as the Office of

the Data Protection Registrar

• We are based in Wilmslow, Cheshire, because the first

Registrar, Eric Howe, established the office near to his home

• The current Data Protection Act dates from 1998

• In 2001 we became the Information Commissioner’s Office,

with responsibility for freedom of information as well as data

protection

Find out more

Website: www.ico.org.uk

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Email: mail@ico.org.uk

Write: Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe HouseWater LaneWilmslowSK9 5AF

Visit us at www.ico.org.uk

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