Leicestershire County Council (25 014 251)
Category : Other Categories > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Oct 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s disclosure of Ms X’s personal data to her ex-partner. This is because the complaint concerns a data breach. The Information Commissioner’s Officer would be better suited to consider the matters complained about.
The complaint
- Ms X complained the Council shared her personal details with her ex-partner, which caused her distress and significant concern.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- The Information Commissioner's Office considers complaints about freedom of information. Its decision notices may be appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). So where we receive complaints about freedom of information, we normally consider it reasonable to expect the person to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X contacted the Council to update her personal details and asked it not to share the update with her ex-partner due to significant safety concerns for her and her children. The Council later disclosed the information to her ex-partner.
- Ms X complained to the Council, and it acknowledged the error. The Council said it was a complex issue as Ms X’s ex-partner was entitled to some information about the children, but it apologised for going against her wishes and offered Ms X £350.
- Ms X remains unhappy with the Council’s actions and wants us to find it at fault. The Ombudsman will not usually exercise discretion to investigate a complaint if there is a body better placed to consider the issues raised. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) was set up to investigate complaints regarding data breaches. It would therefore be reasonable for Ms X to refer her complaint to the ICO.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the complaint concerns a data breach. The Information Commissioner’s Officer would be better suited to consider the matters complained about.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman