Privacy Notice

At a glance

We need to collect and use personal information to carry out the Inquiry’s work.
This includes gathering evidence, speaking to people, and keeping the public informed.

We:

  • Only collect what we need
  • Use it for clear purposes
  • Keep it secure
  • Do not keep it longer than necessary
  • Respect your rights

You do not need to provide us with any personal data that identifies you unless you want to.

Who we are

The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is responsible for deciding how your personal data is used. This makes us the data controller.

What we mean by personal data

Personal data is any information that can identify you, such as:

  • your name or contact details
  • information about your experiences or opinions
  • images or recordings where you can be recognised

Some information is more sensitive (for example health details or information about criminal offences). We take extra care when handling this.

What we use your information for

We use personal data to:

  • gather and assess evidence for the Inquiry
  • hear from the public, professionals and organisations
  • communicate with witnesses, participants, journalists and others
  • respond to enquiries and correspondence
  • deal with requests about personal data
  • provide updates through our website or email
  • run and improve our website

You can participate in the inquiry on an anonymous basis.

What information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following, but you do not have to provide any of these details:

If you provide evidence as a member of an institution or organisation, or as a witness

  • name, contact details, job title and employer
  • your account or experiences
  • opinions you share
  • sensitive information (for example about health or criminal matters), if you choose to give it
  • information about other people, where relevant

If you contact us or take part

  • your name and contact details
  • details of your query or involvement
  • any other information you choose to provide

If you make a data request

  • your name and contact details
  • proof of identity
  • details of your request

When visiting our hearing venues

  • CCTV images for security purposes

Our legal reasons for using your data

We must have a legal reason to use your information.

We usually rely on:

  • Public task – using your data is necessary for us to carry out the Inquiry
  • Legal obligation – for example when responding to data protection requests

We will only use sensitive personal information (such as information about health or criminal matters) where it is necessary for to the Inquiry’s work e.g. during hearings to explain what happened. If possible, we will redact sensitive personal information before sharing documents with others

Who we share your information with

We may share data with:

  • legal teams involved in the Inquiry
  • organisations or individuals formally taking part (called core participants)
  • others where required as part of the Inquiry process

Information used in public hearings or reports may be published on our website, with personal data redacted when necessary.

How we protect your information

We will keep your data safe by:

  • storing your data securely
  • only allowing access to people who need it
  • following strict policies and procedures

Your data may sometimes be stored outside the UK, but only where similar protections apply.

How long we keep your data

We only keep personal data for as long as we need it.

  • Evidence: will be kept until the Inquiry ends
  • Important records: may be kept permanently at The National Archives
  • Other information: will be deleted when no longer needed or when the Inquiry closes

If you provide proof of identity when requesting your personal data from the Inquiry, the documents you provide will be deleted once checks are complete.

Our website and cookies

Our website provides information about the Inquiry.

We use cookies to understand how the site is used during your visit. These do not track you beyond your visit.

For more details, see our cookie policy.

Your rights

You have rights over your personal data, including:

  • Access – ask for a copy of your data
  • Correction – ask us to fix incorrect information
  • Completion – ask us to complete missing information
  • Erasure – ask us to delete data where appropriate
  • Restriction – ask us to limit how we use your data
  • Objection – object to how we use your data

Some of these rights may be limited because of the Inquiry’s legal duties.

Contact us

If you have questions or want to use your rights:

DPO@grooming-gangs.independent-inquiry.uk

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we use your data:

  1. Contact us using the email above
  2. We will review your complaint independently

If you are still unhappy, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

You also have the right to take legal action.

Updates

We review this privacy notice regularly. It was last updated: July 2026