Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that a fire authority falsified records about the complainant as this is best dealt with by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains a fire authority falsified records it holds about her and that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) has not responded to her complaint about this. Miss X says she has been caused stress and upset by this and wants a response to her complaint.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We normally expect someone to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner if they have a complaint about data protection. However, we may decide to investigate if we think there are good reasons. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

5. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent regulator in respect of data protection matters and is best placed to deal with Miss X’s complaint about how her data was handled. As such, we will not investigate this matter. We will also not investigate how the PFCC dealt with Miss X’s complaint as it would not be a good use of our limited resources when we will not investigate the substantive matter.

Back to top

Final decision

6. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is best dealt with by the ICO.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman