Privacy Policy

This policy sets out the approach that will be taken by the Patrick Finucane Inquiry (the Inquiry) to collect and use personal data and information.  The Inquiry is an independent public inquiry exercising statutory functions in the public interest under the Inquiries Act 2005 (the Act).  This policy is to be read together with the Act, the Inquiry Rules 2006 (the Rules) and other protocols which have been published on the Inquiry’s website.  

The Inquiry is a data controller and can be contacted at: enquiries@finucane.independent-inquiry.uk.   Other ways to contact us can be found on the Inquiry’s Contact Us webpage. 

This policy may be amended from time to time, in which case an amended version will be published on the Inquiry website. 

Why We Process Personal Data  (Back to top)

The Inquiry processes personal information to fulfill its investigations in line with the Terms of Reference. This includes gathering evidence, enabling participation, and facilitating access to the Inquiry, as well as communicating updates about the progress of the Inquiry with you.   Personal information may also be used by the Inquiry to comply with its legal and contractual obligations.  

How We Obtain Personal Data  (Back to top)

Most personal data is provided directly by you or through your legal representative for one or more of the following reasons: 

• Offering evidence or applying to be a Core Participant 
• Responding to requests for witness statements or documents 
• Contacting the Inquiry by email, phone, or letter 
• Attending meetings with the Inquiry Team 
• Representing an organisation engaging with or providing services to the Inquiry 

We may also receive information about you from other sources, including government departments or agencies.  Other individuals may also include information about you in their evidence to the Inquiry. In most cases, information will be provided to the Inquiry on a voluntary basis following a request. However, the Inquiry may also require personal information under a Section 21 Notice, for the purpose of discharging its statutory functions.  

Types of Personal Data Collected  (Back to top)

The Inquiry collects and retains details about individuals connected to matters within the Terms of Reference.   This may include personal data such as name, date of birth, personal description, contact details and images and voice recordings.  

The Inquiry may also process the following: 

• Special category data which needs more protection because it is sensitive (for example: health, ethnicity, religion, political opinions and trade union membership) 
• Personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences (including charges that did not lead to prosecution, incident reports and alleged offences) 

Such data is handled under strict controls. 

Legal Basis for Processing  (Back to top)

Personal data is processed fairly and lawfully in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Personal Information (including information relating to criminal convictions or offences) is processed because it is necessary to enable us to carry out our work, which is a task carried out in the public interest and in the exercise of a statutory function, under the Act. Sensitive personal information is processed for reasons of substantial public interest in the exercise of a statutory function. 

Sharing Your Information  (Back to top)

The Inquiry keeps your personal information secure and only shares it where necessary and with those who need to see it. This includes:  

• With approved third-party processors providing services, such as disclosure platforms  
• With organisations holding relevant records or experts assisting the Inquiry’s work 
• With members of the Inquiry Team, expert witnesses, and Core Participants (and their Recognised Legal Representative) and the public in line with the Inquiry’s published policies including the Receipt and Handling of Documents Protocol, the Restriction Order Protocol, the Redaction Protocol and the Anonymity Protocol. 
   

The Inquiry has contracts in place with its data processors, which means they cannot do anything with your personal information unless the Inquiry has instructed them to do it. They will not share your personal information with any organisation apart from the Inquiry, or as directed by the Inquiry. They will hold your data securely and retain it for the period the Inquiry instructs. 

As your personal information is stored on our IT infrastructure, and shared with our data processors who provide email, information management and storage services, it will be stored securely within UK servers, and it may be transferred and stored securely outside the European Union. If that happens, your information will be subject to equivalent legal protection through Model Contract Clauses. 

We may also share personal information where legally required to do so, or where it is necessary to assist criminal investigations to allow other organisations to comply with their statutory functions. 

How long we keep your Personal Data for  

Information including personal data will be securely stored by the Inquiry for as long as it is required for the purpose for which it was collected.  This will generally be for the duration of the Inquiry. At the close of the Inquiry, the Inquiry record, which may include personal and sensitive information, will be transferred to The National Archives for permanent preservation as required by the Public Records Act 1958.  At the National Archives, information will be handled under the data protection safeguards and legislation for archiving in the public interest.  

Personal data which is not transferred to the National Archives may be retained by the Inquiry’s sponsoring department, NIO, for a limited period for audit and accountability purposes and will then be destroyed.   

Your Rights  (Back to top)

You have the right to: 

• Request details of how your data is processed 
• Obtain a copy of your personal data (subject to exemptions) 
• Request corrections or deletion of inaccurate data 
• Restrict or object to processing in certain circumstances 

Requests will be considered in light of the Inquiry’s statutory duties and the necessity of processing personal information for that purpose.  

This privacy policy only applies to this website. If you access YouTube from this website, the Google Privacy Policy will apply. If you access another website from this one, read the privacy policy on that website to find out what it does with your information. 

Further Information and Complaints  (Back to top)

If you have comments or queries about this privacy policy, please contact the Inquiry at enquiries@finucane.independent-inquiry.uk. If you are unhappy about the way that the Inquiry uses your personal data, you may contact the Inquiry’s Data Protection Officer at the same email address, who provides independent advice and monitoring of our use of personal information. 

If you wish to make a complaint about the way the Inquiry handles your personal data, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at: 

Wycliffe House 

Water Lane 

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF 

Email to: casework@ico.org.uk 

Telephone: 0303 123 1113 

Any complaint to the Information Commissioner is without prejudice to your right to seek redress through the courts. 

Terms and Conditions  (Back to top)

This website is provided for your personal use and viewing. By accessing and using this site, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, effective from the date you first visit the site. 

You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not infringe upon the rights of others or restrict their ability to use the site. This includes avoiding any unlawful behaviour, harassment, or actions that cause distress or inconvenience, as well as refraining from transmitting obscene or offensive material. 

Use of Website Content  (Back to top)

Unless otherwise stated, the content on this site is protected by Crown copyright. 

The Patrick Finucane Inquiry website is published under the Open Government License, which allows you to reproduce information provided you comply with the terms of that license. 

All material is provided “as is,” and we disclaim all warranties, representations, and liabilities to the fullest extent permitted by law. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the content, nor for any loss, injury, or damage resulting from its use. We also do not guarantee that the material will remain available. 

Linking and Sharing Policy  (Back to top)

Linking to this website 

While using www.finucane.independent-inquiry.uk, you may access other government websites, each of which may have its own terms and conditions. Ensure you review those terms when visiting external sites. 

We are not responsible for the content or reliability of any linked websites or social media platforms, nor do we necessarily endorse the views expressed there. Users may share content from this site, but we are not liable for their actions or opinions when doing so. Sharing features depend on third-party services outside our control, and we cannot guarantee their availability. 

Links from this website 

We aim to update broken links promptly but cannot guarantee that all links will work, as we have no control over external sites. 

Virus Protection  (Back to top)

We take steps to check and test materials during production. However, it is advisable to run antivirus software on any files downloaded from the internet. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss, disruption, or damage to your data or computer system resulting from using material from this site. 

Cookies  (Back to top)

This site uses cookies to function properly. You can view a complete list of cookies and their purposes in our privacy and cookies settings. 

Disclaimer  (Back to top)

The Patrick Finucane Inquiry website and its content, including information, products, and services (or those of third parties), are provided “as is” without any representation or warranty of any kind, whether express or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security, and accuracy. 

We do not guarantee that the site’s functions will be uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that the site or its server is virus-free or fully reliable. We accept no liability for any loss or damage, including indirect or consequential loss, or any loss of data or profits arising from the use of this website.