Enable Law recently acted for an adoptive family whose safety and wellbeing were placed at significant risk following a serious data breach by a local authority. The parents had adopted a child in circumstances where the birth family had a known history of risk and threatening behaviour, making confidentiality absolutely critical.
Despite this, the local authority unlawfully disclosed identifying information about the family, including their home address, to the birth family during the course of a subject access request.
The impact of the disclosure
Following the disclosure, the local authority repeatedly failed to explain precisely what information had been released. For over a year, the family was left believing that their full home address was known and that they could be located at any time.
This prolonged uncertainty caused extreme distress and fear of unwanted contact. The family’s sense of security was severely undermined and, out of concern for their children’s safety, they felt they had no option but to move home. The upheaval had a profound emotional and financial impact at an already sensitive time in their lives.
Inadequate response from the local authority
When the family sought accountability, the local authority attempted to minimise the harm caused and initially offered £15,000 in compensation. This failed to reflect the seriousness of the breach, the prolonged distress experienced, or the real‑world consequences of being forced to relocate in order to remain safe.
At this point, the family instructed Gary Walker, partner at Enable Law and a specialist in data protection and information law.
Putting the family’s safety and wellbeing first
From the outset, Enable Law placed the family’s safety, emotional wellbeing, and need for long‑term security at the centre of the case. Gary Walker and his specialist data protection team took time to understand the full impact the breach had on the family and what they needed to achieve closure.
Independent expert evidence was obtained from an architect and a valuer to properly assess the consequences of the move and the financial losses incurred. Through careful evidence‑gathering and robust negotiation, Enable Law secured an out‑of‑court settlement in excess of £100,000.
The settlement reflects not only the emotional distress caused by the breach, but also the significant financial consequences of having to move home under such distressing circumstances. Throughout the process, the family was supported at every stage, allowing them to pursue justice while prioritising their children’s safety and future stability.
Adoptive families place immense trust in local authorities to protect their most sensitive personal information. Confidentiality is fundamental to safeguarding adopted children and maintaining the stability that allows families to thrive.
How we can help you
Enable Law continues to lead in cases involving data breaches, adoption safeguarding failures, and public authority negligence, helping families secure the protection and accountability they deserve.
Adoption proceedings often involve very sensitive information that when disclosed to the birth family can be incredibly worrying for the adoptive family. If you find yourself in a situation where you have been the victim of an adoption data breach, we can help you. It is important that you get the support you need quickly to get your family in safety. To have a free, confidential discussion with a member of our team call us today on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form.
