Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about information shared with a third-party by the Council. The law says we cannot investigate complaints about what happened in court.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained about information shared by the Council with another person which caused her distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Miss X said she provided information to the Council, which it then shared with another person.
6. Miss X said has raised her concerns with the Judge presiding over the active court proceedings and other bodies.
7. Miss X’s complaint and the active proceedings are not separable and we cannot investigate because the law prevents us from doing so.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because we cannot investigate a complaint about what happened in court.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman