Investigation of complaints about dogs - privacy notice

The personal information you give to us through any of our forms relating to dog nuisance or behaviour and any other personal information we hold about you in this context will be processed by us (Eastwood Park, Giffnock, G46 6UG) for the investigation of any dog control or dog nuisance issues..

Your information is processed to help us investigate any concerns related to dogs. Your information may also be shared with Police Scotland, who share responsibility for enforcement of dog control, other departments within the council and other organisations for the same purposes and also to:

• check the information we have is accurate
• prevent and/or detect crime

Other organisations include:

• other councils
• public sector agencies
• government departments
• regulatory and law enforcement bodies

We process your information in order to perform a task carried out in the public interest and in the exercise of official authority. The law gives certain types of information special significance because of its sensitivity such as health information. If we process this type of information about you in relation to dog control we do so on the basis that it's necessary for reasons of substantial public interest.

Without the correct information we may be unable to properly investigate issues of concern related to dog nuisance or behaviour.

Most of the information we hold about you will come from you as an individual. Some of the information may come from 3rd party sources including:

• other local authorities
• electoral registration officers
• local assessors
• community charges registration officers
• housing bodies operating in the East Renfrewshire area

Such information includes:

• your name
• your address
• your contact details such a phone number and/or email address

We'll hold your information from the end of the year it was given for a period of 6 years. Your information will be destroyed under confidential conditions after this period.

Your information will be accessed by our staff who need to do so to properly investigate the issues or concerns being raised or who may be responsible for the taking of informal action or formal action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

Information is also analysed internally in order to give management information and inform future service delivery.

Your information may also be shared with other departments within the council, Police Scotland, or other councils, should the concern be relevant to their local authority area. 

We also generally meet with requests for specific information from other regulatory and law enforcement bodies where this is necessary and appropriate.

Depending on why we need to process your information you'll have rights to how your information is used. More information about your rights, including the circumstances in which they apply, can be found within our main privacy policy.

If you've concerns about the processing of your personal data by us, you can contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.

For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data sharing, visit the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website (opens new window).

Please contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.

This notice will be kept under regular review and was last updated on the 9 March 2021.