Read our privacy notice for information on how we collect, store and process your data.
Brighton & Hove City Council is committed to protecting your personal information. As a data controller we have a responsibility to make sure you know why and how your personal information is being collected in accordance with relevant data protection law.
The primary laws which govern how Brighton & Hove City Council collects and use personal information (known as “Data”) about you are:
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Data Protection Act (DPA) (2018)
However, the Animal Warden Team is also subject to other specific laws which define when and for what purposes it can use your personal data.
We collect data for the purpose of issuing and managing animal activity licences as we have a duty to do so under one of the following acts:
Information gathered in the application process may be used to determine whether a licence can be issued or refused. Contact details may also be used to communicate in regards to your application or the licence you hold. Successful applicants may have their details published on the council’s website. If your business details contain your own personal data then we would ask for your consent to publish them online.
Data may also be used to investigate licensed premises in the event of a complaint. If necessary, investigations may lead to enforcement action.
Information may also be used to respond to reports of stray or lost dogs and dog attacks. We have a duty to respond to reports of stray dogs under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. All other reports relating to lost dogs and dog attacks are done so as we have powers under one the following pieces of legislation:
Data collected may be used to contact the appropriate parties when dealing with the matter, which could result in informal action or court action. There are some instances that will incur a fee, so financial information may be processed.
The council runs a voluntary Professional Dog Walker’s Scheme. Information may be used to evaluate applications to issue certificates of acceptance and your details may be published on the council’s website. Contact details may be used for communication purposes in relation to the scheme. The processing of data will be done so with the data subjects explicit consent, which will be sought when applying to join.
Information gathered when receiving complaints or queries may be used to respond appropriately to the matter. Depending on the nature of this contact will determine how your data is used, but it could include investigative work and enforcement action if required.
Depending on the nature of the contact we would be processing data under one of the pieces of legislation previously mentioned, unless those reports were relating to animal welfare issues, in which case we would have a duty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
When we process special category data it will be done so under substantial public interest, specifically working within the Data Protection Act (2018), Schedule 1, Part 2, Para 6 'Statutory etc. and government purposes'
Contact details including:
Offences (including alleged offences)
Criminal proceedings, outcomes and sentences
Your data may be shared internally with Housing, Adult Social Care, City Clean, Parks and Legal Services.
We may also share information externally with the Police, National Health Service, Veterinarian, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the courts, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, sub-contractors, kennels and rescue centres.
Data that is shared is always done:
Information is only shared with those agencies and bodies who have a "need to know" or where you have consented to the sharing of your personal data.
We may use the information we hold about you to assist in the detection and prevention of crime or fraud. We may also share this information with other bodies that inspect and manage public funds.
Information pertaining to an animal licence will be held for the length of the licence plus six years.
Information regarding complaints or queries will be held for six years from when the case is closed.
Information regarding the Dog Walker’s Scheme will be held for the length of time you wish to be a part of the scheme, unless refused or removed entry onto the scheme, in which case we will hold your information for one year from that decision.
We will not keep your data for longer than is necessary, subject to any legal obligations we have to retain the data. How long we keep it will vary according to the services you are involved with and the lawful basis for processing within those services.
However the Principles we will use to determine how long your data will be kept include:
Your information will be stored electronic databases, document management systems and on paper records.
We will only make your information available to those who have a need to know in order to perform their Council role.
Examples of the security measures we use are:
Controlling access to systems and networks allows us to stop people who are not allowed to view your personal information from getting access to it.
Regular testing of our technology and ways of working including keeping up to date on the latest security updates (commonly called patches).
Your information is not processed outside of the European Economic Area.
You have the following rights in relation to your personal information:
The right to be informed – you have right to know about the collection and use of your personal data. We will inform you through our service-specific notices
The right of access – you can request to know what we hold on you along with an explanation for how it is used by making a “Subject Access Request”
The right to rectification – you have the right to ask us to update, amend or change your information if it is factually inaccurate or incomplete
The right to erasure – you have the right to ask us to delete your personal information from the animal licence public register.
The right to restrict processing – you have the right to request that we limit using your personal data for specific purposes if you do not believe we have a lawful basis for a particular purpose or where you consider the data to be incorrect. Upon receiving a restriction request, we are obliged to consider our use of the data and provide you with a response.
The right to object – you have the right, in certain circumstances, to object to us collecting, using and storing your information. Upon receiving a request of this type, we are required to stop using your data whilst we investigate and provide a response.
If you have a concern about how we collect or use your personal data you can contact the Council’s Data Protection Officer.
We aim to resolve all complaints about how we handle personal information. You also have the right to make a complaint about data protection to the Information Commissioner's Office.
Contact them by post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or phone 0303 1231 113.
You can also make a complaint or find out more information on the Commissioner's Office website.
If your complaint is not about data protection, find details on how to make a complaint about a council service.
This Privacy Notice will be subject to review when there is a change.