Data protection
Data protection complaints
From the 19 June 2026 all organisations who act as data controllers must have a formal process in place for dealing with data protection complaints. If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, you can make a data protection complaint.
We take these concerns seriously and will investigate what happened, keep you updated, and tell you the outcome.
What is a data protection complaint?
A data protection complaint is when you tell us you are unhappy with how we have collected, used, stored or shared your personal information.
You have the right to complain if you believe we have not followed data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) or part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018.
What you can complain about
You can raise a complaint about any aspect of how we handle your personal data. For example:
- how we dealt with your request to access your personal data
- delays or failure to respond to your request
- concerns about a data breach or loss of information
- how we collected, stored, used or shared your personal data
How to make a complaint
The easiest way to make a complaint is to use our online form:
You can also contact us in other ways:
- Email: dp@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
- Post: Data Protection Officer, South Lanarkshire Council, Floor 11, Council Offices Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0AA
When you contact us, please give as much detail as you can. This helps us understand your concern and investigate it properly.
We will need:
- your full name
- your contact details
- a clear description of your complaint
If someone is complaining for you, we may need proof that they have your permission, such as written authority from you or power of attorney.
Getting help to make a complaint
If you cannot make a complaint yourself, someone else can do it for you. This could be a friend, relative or advocate, as long as you have given your consent.
You can also get independent advice and support from organisations such as:
They can help you understand your rights and support you through the process.
How long you have to complain
It is best to contact us as soon as possible after you notice a problem.
In most cases, you should make your complaint within six months. This helps us investigate while the details are still fresh.
If there are exceptional reasons for a delay, we may still accept your complaint. Please explain why you could not contact us sooner.
What happens after you complain
We follow a set process in terms of the law to deal with data protection complaints.
We will:
- acknowledge your complaint within 30 days
- investigate what happened
- keep you informed about progress
- tell you the outcome as soon as possible
Our aim is to resolve your concern quickly and fairly. We also use complaints to improve our services and prevent similar issues in the future.
Your privacy
When you make a complaint, we will record:
- your name and contact details
- the date of your complaint
- details of your concern
- the actions we take and the outcome
We only use this information to manage your complaint and improve our services. We keep it confidential and handle it in line with data protection law. For more information you can view our general privacy notice.
If you are not satisfied
If you are unhappy with our response, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is the independent regulator for data protection in the UK.
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Fair treatment
We aim to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
If you feel you did not receive the service, help or information you expected because of your:
- age
- gender or gender identity
- race
- disability
- sexual orientation
- religion or belief
please tell us as part of your complaint.
Other types of complaints
This page is for data protection concerns only.
If your issue is about another council service, you can use our general complaints process or phone 0303 123 1015.