Construction Firms Accused Of Using Illegal Blacklists

An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has uncovered a database containing details on 3,213 construction workers which was used by over 40 construction companies1 to vet individuals for employment. The information includes sensitive personal information such as construction workers’ personal relationships, trade union activity, as well as people’s employment history.

Officials from ICO , the authority set up to protect personal information, are understood to have raided offices of a Worcestershire-based consultant on Monday, seizing a list containing 3,200 names and national insurance numbers of construction workers.

ICO said that companies paid a £3,000 annual fee to a firm known as the Consulting Association to use the service. Construction firms then paid £2.20 for data held on individuals and could add information to the database. Invoices to construction firms for up to £7,500 were seized during the raid on February 23.

Deputy Information Commissioner, David Smith, said: “This is a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. Not only was personal information held on individuals without their knowledge or consent but the very existence of the database was repeatedly denied...The covert system enabled Mr Kerr to unlawfully trade personal information on workers for many years helping the construction industry to vet prospective employees.”