What is The ICO?:

The Information Commissioner's Office / ICO is the UK's independent public body set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information by promoting good practice, ruling on eligible complaints, providing information to individuals and organisations, and taking appropriate action when the law is broken.
 
Detailed below is information on the areas covered by the ICO;

• Enforce the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and the Environmental Information Regulations. Maintain the public register of data controllers, under the Data Protection Act.
• Approve publication schemes adopted by public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act.
• Provide a general enquiry service for individuals and organisations.
• Publish guidance and information to encourage organisations to achieve good practice and help individuals to understand their rights.
• Raise awareness of the law and how it works.
• Influence thinking on privacy and access issues.
• Rule on eligible complaints from people who think the Data Protection Act or Freedom of Information Act has been breached.
• Prosecute those who commit offences under the legislation.

What is the Data Proteciton Act?:

The Data Protection Act requires anyone who handles personal information to comply with a number of important principles. It also gives individuals rights over their personal information.

The ICO produces detailed guidance which provides organisations and individuals with all the information they need to know about the Data Protection Act and has legal powers to ensure that organisations comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. It is important to note that these powers are focused on ensuring that organisations meet the obligations of the Act.

Unless exempt, the Data Protection Act requires all data controllers who process personal information to notify with the ICO.