Assembly pictures

>

Many of you have requestedf info on the thorny issue of pictures of children @ Christmas productions. Last week the ICO - Information Commioner's Office, published the following press release, which emphasised common sense.

Any further queries email me or phone their help line: 01625 545745

Press Release
For immediate release
8 December 2008

ICO says festive photos are fine

This Christmas the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is encouraging a common sense approach to photographs taken by family and friends at school concerts and plays and is reminding parents that the Data Protection Act does not prevent them from capturing those priceless moments.

David Smith, Deputy Commissioner at the ICO, says: "All too often we hear of cases where parents have been prevented by schools from taking pictures of their children and friends because of data protection. We recognise that parents want to capture significant moments on camera and would advise a common sense approach. Photographs taken for the family photo album are exempt from the Act. Citing the Data Protection Act in order to prevent parents taking photos is a data protection duck out and can undermine the important role the Act plays in the protection of our personal information."

The ICO has produced guidance to dispel any confusion and explain parents’ rights under the Act. The guidance also provides advice for local education authorities and those working within schools, explaining that the Data Protection Act is unlikely to apply in most situations where photographs are taken by parents in schools.

The Act does apply when photographs of children are taken for official use by a school or college such as for issuing identification passes. In the other small number of instances where the Data Protection Act does apply, if the photographer obtains permission from the parent or individual to take a photograph, then this will usually be enough to ensure compliance.
The full copy of the guidance can be viewed here http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/taking_photos_v3.0_final.pdf
ENDS
If you need more information, please visit the website at: http://www.ico.gov.uk/
Notes to Readers

1. The Information Commissioner promotes public access to official information and protects personal information. The ICO is an independent body with specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and other legislation.
2. For more information about the Information Commissioner’s Office, subscribe to our e-newsletter at www.ico.gov.uk
3. Anyone who processes personal information must comply with the eight principles which make
sure that personal information is:
• Fairly and lawfully processed
• Processed for limited purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate and up to date
• Not kept for longer than is necessary
• Processed in line with your rights
• Secure
• Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection