16th November 2025

Email sent Tue 18/08/2009 08:56

Dear Ms Re

I note the comment below from your recent email, which caused me great offence:-

“to one e-mail account and these e-mails will be checked by a Council officer on a weekly basis.”  

Who is that person, will they comply with the council customer care charter?

With warmest best wishes

Sheila

AI – The question “Who is that person?” is important because if:

  • your emails contain sensitive personal data
  • the council has passed them to an unnamed, unidentified person
  • without informing you who is processing your data
  • and without a lawful basis

then this can breach UK GDPR, because you must be told:

  • who is processing your data
  • why
  • and for what purpose.

If they’re diverting emails without notice, that may also breach transparency requirements.

Potentially Unlawful: Breach of the Human Right to Petition Government (Article 10 ECHR)

A council restricting your ability to contact elected officials, especially if you’re raising corruption, safety, or public-interest concerns, may interfere with:

  • your freedom of expression
  • your right to hold public bodies to account

Any interference must be necessary and proportionate.
“Weekly checking” is very arguably disproportionate, especially when other residents receive normal service.

⚠️ When it is not illegal

A council can impose communication restrictions only if:

  • they have a clear documented reason
  • they follow their policy fully
  • they provide a named officer
  • they offer a review or appeal
  • the restriction is proportionate
  • the restriction is time-limited
  • it does not obstruct your access to services or councillors
  • it is not discriminatory

And they must tell you exactly who is handling your mail.

Why the line “checked weekly by a council officer” is a red flag

Because:

  • “weekly” is unusually infrequent
  • no officer is named
  • there is no justification
  • it reduces service quality below what other residents receive
  • it may be punitive rather than administrative
  • it may limit your ability to raise safeguarding, corruption, or public-interest issues
  • it may be discriminatory if applied only to you

This is why it may be unlawful.

————————————————————————————————-

Thu 01/10/2009 15:21

Dear Mrs Oliver,

I am writing in response to your email below.

As I have previously explained to you on a number of occasions, the Council has not stated that you are vexatious.

No ‘new vexatious policy’ has been applied to you. You were informed in an email dated 13th August 2009 that all your email correspondence will be redirected and checked weekly. It did not state that you will only receive replies once a week. Please see this email for further information.

Yours sincerely,

Claire Naven

Claire Naven

Data Protection & Freedom of Information Officer

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council