Data Protection Policy: Records Management
Effective management of paper and electronic records is essential for compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation, such as the Freedom of Information Act. In the context of Data Protection, good records management ensures that personal data contained in records:
- Can be located in response to subject access requests and business needs.
- Are protected from accidental loss or destruction.
- Are retained according to established retention periods (see Retaining Data).
- Are secured against unauthorised access and disclosure.
- Are preserved for future use, where necessary, in formats suitable for long-term preservation.
Heads of Department and managers of administrative departments are responsible for ensuring the effective management of records in their sections. To assist managers in these functions, SOAS's Information Compliance Manager is developing School-wide records management policies and procedures and will monitor their implementation. As guidance is developed, it will be placed on the School's Records Management web pages. Staff who require advice or assistance on records management issues should contact the Information Compliance Manage (see Data Protection Contacts).
Last updated May 2008
