Personal data handling statement

1. Devon & Cornwall Constabulary holds the personal data of certain members of Watches, such as scheme coordinators, on a computer database.

2. The personal data will be used by the police for: preventing and detecting crime; and giving assistance to Watches in accordance with Force policies and procedures.

3. The data will be passed to: police personnel for the purposes described at 2 above, within the terms of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary’s notification with the Office of the Information Commissioner; The police recognised Community Watch Association for your area, if it is legitimately permitted to hold personal data for the purposes of providing support to Watches, Statutory Partners under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and other partner agencies for the purposes as describes at 2 above.

4. The data may be passed to: The National NHW Association, trained volunteers, Watch Support Groups or Associations, not holding separate Data Protection Notifications, whilst working in partnership with the police, in police premises for the purposes described at 2 above; Householders within the boundaries of your scheme or coordinators from schemes immediately adjacent to yours. Devon & Cornwall Constabulary will not, however, divulge any personal data where there is a doubt about the validity of the enquirer. Under these circumstances, persons seeking to contact a Watch Scheme will have their name, address and telephone number taken and then passed on to the relevant coordinator for them to make contact with the enquirer direct.

5. Once placed onto the database, the personal data can only be accessed by authorised users of the system. Computers are password protected and situated in police stations.

6. The database is updated as and when inaccuracies are identified in the course of ongoing liaison, and in any case will be subject to a full audit at least every year.

7. Nothing contained in the Statement affects any local agreements where scheme co-ordinators or others have entered into agreements, which make their personal data more widely available.

8. Personal details will not be disclosed to any commercial organisation without the prior consent of the individual concerned.

Protection of personal data

The unauthorised use or disclosure of personal data is a criminal offence under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Computer Misuse Act 1990.