You have the right to request what information an organisation may hold about you, known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).
Submit a Subject Access Request
To make a Subject Access Request, please complete the online form:
When applying, you will need to provide:
- proof of who you are
- two forms of identification, both must include your full name and current postal address. This could be copies of utility bills, driving licence or passport
- information about the request you are making.
If you are making a request on someone's behalf, you will need to provide:
- proof of who you are
- two forms of identification, both must include your full name and current postal address. This could be copies of utility bills, driving licence or passport
- proof of the identity of the person you are requesting the information about and two forms of identification bearing their full name and postal address
- proof of legal authority for you to request their information, for example; parental responsibility, power of attorney or letter of authority.
We will send an acknowledgement within five working days upon receipt of your request.
Alternatively, you can submit a request using the following:
- write to us:
- Bury Council, Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0SW
- on social media
- by email on subjectaccessrequest@bury.gov.uk (This email is only for subject access requests, which are requests for personal information which Bury Council holds on the requestor. No other queries can be responded to from this email)
- verbally, please call us: 0161 253 5000.
Processing your Subject Access Request
We aim to respond to your SAR without undue delay. This is usually no later than 1 calendar month, which is counted from the first working day after we receive:
- your Subject Access Request
- proof of your identity
- any further information requested from you.
For us to process your request, we will need all requested information before we can locate and retrieve your personal information.
If we do not receive confirmation of your identity and/or sufficient information to respond to your request within one month, we will not be able to process your request and it will be treated as lapsed for processing purposes.
Where it is not possible for you to respond sooner and if the last day before expiry of 1 calendar month falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the latest due date will be treated as the first working day after the weekend or bank holiday.
Complex Subject Access Requests
If your request is complex or if we have several requests from you, we may need to extend the length of time required to respond. If this applies, we will let you know before the latest due date on which you would be expecting to hear back from us.
The law says we can extend the length of time to respond by a maximum of an additional 2 calendar months.
Where it is not possible to respond sooner and if the last day before expiry of the second additional calendar month falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the latest due date will be treated as the first working day after the weekend or bank holiday.
We will always aim to respond as quickly as we can.
Overdue Subject Access Request response
If you wish to complain to us about how we have handled your request, please contact us at subjectaccessrequest@bury.gov.uk or 0161 253 5000 and someone who has not previously been involved in dealing with your request will look into this matter.
If you do not hear from us by the latest due date or are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. You can:
- telephone on 0303 123 1113
- use the ICO live chat service
- write to: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent regulator responsible for upholding and enforcing the rights of individuals under data protection law.