A document containing confidential details of people evicted and moved by Dundee City Council was mistakenly sent to a member of the public, The Courier can reveal.
Names, former addresses and the reasons people were removed from their homes were included in a letter mailed to a resident by the council’s housing department.
The man who received the document was shocked to discover the extra page of personal information included in a package from the council in response to a full access request for information about himself following a dispute about council tax.
As well as his own information, there were another 13 people listed in the document. It detailed their reasons for moving included eviction, neighbour harassment, being unable to afford the rent or requirements for care and support.
He said: “They sent people’s names, where they lived and why they left or were evicted. Some of the reasons included mental health issues and things I obviously shouldn’t have seen.
“These people are easily identifiable in the document. I was quite shocked at the detail of it. I realised immediately this was something I shouldn’t have seen and I know how important data protection is from my own job.
“It is personal information that shouldn’t have been released.
“If it was me I wouldn’t have been happy to know someone else had seen this kind of information about me.
“This information could have real consequences for people if it fell into the wrong hands.”
The man reported the matter to The Courier on the condition of anonymity but said he was making it public over fears it could happen again.
He said when informed of the data protection breach, the council admitted it was a mistake and asked for the document back.
He said: “When I phoned them up I said I was really unhappy about what had been going on, that I’d looked through the documents and realised they had given me people’s information that I shouldn’t have and that I was thinking about going to the press.
“The woman said ‘if you do that you’ll be in breach as well’ but I am not under any obligation to protect this information the council is.”
He had originally contacted the council to complain about a warrant that was sent to court ordering him to pay council tax for twice the amount he said he owed.
The council later sent a letter apologising for the mistake and requesting to have the information back.
It read: “This document should have been blacked out to remove the information of other people and I apologise for this oversight. I am grateful to you for bringing this to my attention and would ask that you return the document to me in the stamped addressed envelope enclosed.”
While he does now intend to return the document, in person, he believes people should know about what happened.
A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said: “We have apologised for this mistake.
“As soon as it was drawn to our attention, we responded by asking him to return it and provided a stamped addressed envelope. We would encourage him to send it back.”