Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

7th November 2025

Subject: Request for ICO Investigation – Handling of my personal data and email communications by Stockport Council

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request that the Information Commissioner’s Office investigate how Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council is processing and controlling my personal data, particularly concerning the interception and filtering of my email correspondence.

In a letter dated 10 October 2025, the Council’s Complaints Manager, Ms Katie Moores, stated:

“Your emails to anyone who has a Stockport Council email address are received via a central email inbox and those that contain information that requires action are forwarded to the relevant councillors and council teams.”

This confirms that my emails, including those addressed directly to elected councillors, are being intercepted and screened by officers before delivery.

I was first informed of this arrangement approximately 15 years ago, under the previous Data Protection Act 1998. However, I have never received any updated notice, review outcome, or renewed justification since the introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

I am therefore concerned that this practice is continuing without any current lawful basis or review and that it may be inconsistent with data protection principles of lawfulness, fairness, transparency, and proportionality.

Specifically, I ask the ICO to investigate whether:

  1. Stockport Council’s continued interception and filtering of my emails complies with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018;
  2. I should have been re-informed of this practice or given an updated privacy notice since 2018;
  3. The council is required to review and justify the restriction periodically, and whether such reviews have taken place;
  4. The arrangement is proportionate and necessary, given that it restricts my ability to contact elected representatives directly.

I believe this situation raises serious concerns about both data protection compliance and democratic transparency, as it allows unelected officers to control which of a resident’s communications are seen by councillors.

I would be grateful if the ICO could examine whether this long-standing arrangement remains lawful and, if not, issue appropriate guidance or corrective action to the Council.

Please find enclosed a copy of the council’s letter dated 10 October 2025, which confirms the ongoing interception.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Sheila Oliver
Editor, The Romiley Gazette