Fenland Council put its hand up to admit a second data breach after an officer shared a complainant’s details to the businessman alleged to be illegally renting out some caravans.

Nick Harding, head of planning, admits the complainant’s details “were sent to you in error” and immediately launched an inquiry.

The issue centres round the former Krazy Karts site in Creek Road and Mr Harding has now written to businessman Bruce Smith to apologise for releasing the name.

“The data breach has already been investigated and reported in accordance with established protocols and I am pleased to say that we have already implemented changes to our systems to significantly reduce the risk of the event happening again,” he said.

Mr Smith told Fenland Council that having become aware of the complainant’s name “it verifies my concern that the complaint is borne out of malice not social justice.”

We have decided not to publish the complainant’s name – even though we are aware of his identity- but Mr Smith added: “I can think of no reason why he has adopted this manner. I have never caused the man any harm whatsoever.”

Mr Smith has now written back to Fenland Council alleging harassment by the council compliance officer looking at alleged irregularities at the Creek Fen site.

“There was for instance a menacing tone in an email I received from the council about a 2003 enforcement issues that sought neither to validate the ownership of the site at that time nor to determine my involvement, if any, with it,” he said.

He said he had been threatened with a court summons within weeks “for an alleged breach of compliance dating back over 13 years; that is, in my opinion, an irrational, unnecessary and diabolical act”.

Mr Smith said: “I have never encountered such a gross breach of data protection or the discourtesy and unethical behaviour I am subject to now.”

He said in recent years he had dealt with four enforcement officers and until recently the enforcement team at Fenland Hall “was perfectly happy with four years continuous use which we were able to prove. Having proved that along comes another enforcement officer who wants 10 years proof. I am concerned at the lack of consistency here/”

Mr Smith said the man who complained coincidentally claimed the site has been used historically for many years “and with the current enforcement officer saying we have no continuation of residential use, I think the complainant will turn out to be our best witness.”

In a recent email to Mr Smith, the council claims a “criminal offence is being committed” because of a failure to abide by the 2003 enforcement notice.

The council says they want the site clean in four weeks to avoid legal action.

PANEL

It is the second data breach in recent weeks – last month council leader John Clark sent details of a complaint to the business being complained of. He also never told the complainant he owned the land at the centre of the dispute.