Data Protection Legislation sets out guidance on how Public Authorities and organisations manage personal data. It is a requirement by law that the organisation managing personal data is registered with the Information Commissioner. This is achieved through a notification statement and can be viewed online at the Information Commissioner's website.
Secondly, every organisation that manages personal information is legally bound by the six key principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Further information regarding these and the University of Westminster's notification statement can be found below.
Download our Personal Data Protection Policy:
Data protection notification statement
The Information Commissioner maintains a public register of Data Controllers. Each register entry includes the name and address of the data controller and a general description of the processing of personal data by a data controller.
Individuals can consult the register to find out what processing of personal data is being carried out by a particular data controller. Notification is the process by which a data controller's details are added to the register.
The Data Protection Act 1998 requires every data controller who is processing personal data to give notification.
The University of Westminster's Notification Statement is available on the Information Commissioner's website under the Register of Data Controllers. The University’s registration number is: Z8450604.
Data protection principles
Staff in the University who process personal data or sensitive personal data must comply with the six key principles, in Article 5 of the GDPR. This can be briefly summarised as:
Personal data shall be:
- processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject (‘lawfulness, fairness and transparency’)
- collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing, where allowed for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes personal information will be collected for clear and specific purposes, shall not be considered incompatible with the initial purposes (‘purpose limitation’)
- adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed (‘data minimisation’)
- accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay (‘accuracy’)
- kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed (‘storage limitation’)
- processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures (‘integrity and confidentiality’)
The University will adhere to these core principles.
In addition to these core principles, this policy commits the University to comply with the Articles of the GDPR, its supporting Recitals and any official guidance on personal data protection available from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Data Protection Act complaints
If you have any complaints about the way we are handling Data Protection then please let us know. Please contact the Information Compliance Manager at the address below.
Information Compliance Team
University of Westminster
Third floor
32-38 Wells Street
London W1T 3UW
T: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65158
E: [email protected]
If you have followed our complaints procedure and are unhappy with the outcome, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner.
Contact the Information Commissioner at the address below or report your concerns online at the Information Commissioner's Office website.
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF