Privacy notice

Forensic Psychiatric Ltd, P O Box 357, Tarporley Cheshire CW6 6AW acts as an expert witness service. This privacy notice provides information about the personal information we process about you as a data controller, in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We take the security of data very seriously and understand the importance of keeping it safe.

Our ICO registration number - Z1935457

Please contact our Data Protection Officer Lindsay Reid info@forensicpsychiatry with any questions or requests about the personal information we process.

We process the personal data of individuals who are engaged in legal proceeding and require a psychiatric report to assist the courts, and also the personal data of witnesses and others with links to the issues in the case.

The personal data may include:

• Names, contact details and dates of birth;

• Health information;

• Information about race, ethnic origin and sex;

The personal data is provided by the person instructing us in relation to the legal issues, who is usually a solicitor or a similar individual. Occasionally we are provided with data from relatives or carers of the individual.

We process the data because it is in our legitimate interests as expert witnesses to do so. We need to see and analyse documents containing this information in order to provide expert advice.

In relation to any special category personal data, such as health records or information concerning, race, ethnic origin, or sex is, we rely on the legal claims basis for processing this data, in addition to our legitimate interest.

In many cases, an individual has consented to the transfer of their personal data to us. Where an individual has consented, he or she may easily withdraw it by notifying Lindsay Reid on the details below.

Your Rights

• Right to be informed about what we do with your personal data;

• Right to have a copy of all the personal information we process about you;

• Right to rectification of any inaccurate data we process, and to add to the information we hold about you if it is incomplete;

• Right to be forgotten and your personal data destroyed;

• Right to restrict the processing of your personal data;

• Right to object to the processing we carry out based on our legitimate interest;

Other personal data

We also process personal data pursuant to our legitimate interests in running our business such as:

• Invoices and receipts

• Accounts, VAT and tax returns

We do not employ staff, but we do process personal data of the doctors. The information includes:

• Names, addresses and contact details

• Bank details

• Curricula vitae

Retention period

Personal data in legal cases is retained, where necessary, for six years or for invoice payment purposes. Where this is not necessary, it is destroyed on the conclusion of the case.

Administrative data is retained for up to six years, in the unlikely event there are queries from HMRC and the VAT commissioner. Where it is not necessary to retain the data for six years, it is destroyed as soon as possible.

Whom do we share personal data with?

We share personal data internally strictly on a need to know basis.

Special category data and personnel files held electronically are encrypted with restricted access. Hard copy special category and other personal data is stored securely with restricted access.

We do not share personal data with anyone external to the organisation, other than with:

• Those who have instructed us as an expert witness

• HMRC and the VAT Commissioner as they require

• With others pursuant to a court order

Information Commissioner's Office

If you have any concerns about the way your personal information has been processed, please contact Lindsay Reid info@forensicpsychiatry.org.uk or 07816936902

Alternatively, you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office on 0303 123 1113.

Review

This information will be reviewed annually. Next due 01/01/2026