GrierOlubi and Bentleys - Individual solicitiors convicted for data protection offences
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today successfully prosecuted two London solicitors for offences under the Data Protection Act. Olubi Adejobi of Grier Olubi Solicitors and Robert Bentley of Bentley’s Solicitors, both based in London, were each fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £500 plus a victims’ surcharge of £15 at Stratford Magistrates’ Court. Each solicitor must pay a total of £815 in fines and costs.
Today’s prosecution follows the failure of both Mr Adejobi and Mr Bentley to notify as data controllers despite repeated reminders from the ICO of their obligations under the Data Protection Act.
Under the Act, organisations that process individuals’ personal information may be required to notify with the Information Commissioner at a nominal cost of £35 per year. Despite being told to notify, both Mr Adejobi and Mr Bentley have failed to respond to any of the ICO’s correspondence and have still not notified.
Mick Gorrill, Assistant Commissioner at the ICO, said: “Organisations must take their data protection responsibilities seriously. It is particularly disappointing that these cases involve solicitors – professionals entrusted with giving legal advice – not complying with the law.
“As today’s prosecution demonstrates, we stand ready to use our powers to prosecute the small minority of businesses that flout the Data Protection Act. We contacted Mr Adejobi and Mr Bentley on a number of occasions to remind
them of their duty under the Act, but they consistently failed to register as data controllers. This prosecution will serve as an important reminder to organisations of their obligation to notify.” |
