Councillor cleared of s.77 data protection offences

A councillor at Thanet District Council has this week been cleared of two data protection offences.

The Information Commissioner’s Office had brought the case against Cllr Suzanne Brimm, who represents the Birchington South Ward, over alleged offences under section 77 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A third charge for non-notification was also brought.

Section 77 FOIA concerns the offence of altering records with intent to prevent disclosure.

Cllr Brimm had pleaded guilty to not registering as a data controller.

She said: “I was very pleased to be vindicated….. I have always denied that I would never intentionally conceal or delete documents. I did not have anything to hide.

“While the last few months have been extremely difficult for me, my priority has always been to represent the interests of my constituents and it will continue to be so in the future.”