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Hanifah January 13, 2022 17:45

Hi everyone.

First time poster. We are adoptive parents to 3 siblings, who have been with us just under 10 years. It's been ups and downs and a bit of a rollercoaster but on the whole, going really well and love them to the ends of the earth. However totally out of the blue, we found out just before end of the year, that there had been a breach of our personal data to birth family.

Since then, have met brick wall after brick wall in trying to find how and why this has happened and exactly what has been given out about us, why, when etc. So many questions going round my head... Think it is most likely from placing LA who do not seem to be taking it seriously! We are very worried as am sure you can imagine! We know they have contact info for us. I don't want to say too much more on here but I would really like to hear from anyone who has been through similar and who can advise me on what to do! I spoke to AUK helpline and am trying to find a solicitor with experience of this but not much luck either. If you can DM me (is that possible? Don't know, am new to these boards, sorry) or just give me any advice on what to do...I'm really worried and its been on our mind every since we found out because we know birth family pose significant risk. Our approval SW have been supportive but I dont think theres' much they can do...

Thank you,

chestnuttree January 14, 2022 12:42

I have no personal experience of this, but I saw that no one else has responded yet. It seem to be a problem that is more common than we like to think. If you search the archives, you will find threads on data breaches which might be helfpul. You can report this to the ICO and the placing LA should have self-reported this straight away (within hours I think) to the ICO as far as I know. You can also contact the police and ask for advice. Have you contacted Adoption UK's helpline? They might also be able to advise you.

I hope someone more knowledgeable will come along soon.

windfalls January 14, 2022 14:10

Hi Hanifah,

So sorry this has happened to you. You need to lodge a complaint with the head of children's services at your placing authority and demand to be told exactly what they have disclosed about your family. Contact your local MP and get him/ her involved too. Disclosing your details to the birth family is a breach of confidentiality and is a civil offence, the remedy being for damages, and if you needed to move house then this would be included in that.

The law society keeps a list of the specialisation of firms in various areas and so could help you find someone. The larger firms are more likely to have specialists in particular areas of law rather than a high street practice which tend to deal with a broader set of areas. You need someone who is a specialist in the area of breaches of confidentiality. Most firms will offer 30 mins free advice so I would phone a couple of firms, explain your situation and see if they can help.

This happens quite a lot. Indeed it happened to us many years ago. Fortunately we had already decided to move and when we did I refused to give the placing authority are new address, which I have stuck to ever since.

If you are in fear for your safety, do call the police. They will be able to contact the placing authority and demand to know what information they have disclosed and if necessary they will visit the birth family and warn them off from contacting you.

Best wishes xxx

Hanifah January 17, 2022 19:16

Thank you both for your responses, very helpful. And also just to know other people get it.

I am no further along in getting any answers but I have now had some legal advice so I think we have a idea of a plan going forward. It's just very worrying and I'm also quite angry that this has happened. Accidentally, on purpose.... I don't know but someone has compromised our safety which is worrying me a lot. Feel on edge a lot of the time.

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