Email/DPA question/conundrum

[Ben_Stanton]

Hi guys,

Scenario;

Member of SMT writes an email intended for a particular students parent, the email is of a 'sensitive' nature and not intended for the eys of the student. This would be bad.

Member of SMT accidently email this to the student in question, not the parent. Oops.

In this situation, would I be 'safe' to nip in and out through the 'back door' and remove the message from the inbox of that student?

Thanks in advance

[jamesb]

With the knowledge and approval of the member of SLT in question, absolutely.

In fact you'd probably be safer doing that than you would leaving it in place.

Edit: Just don't look at any of the other messages in there, unless pupils have been told that e-mails may be monitored.

[Ben_Stanton]

Yep, that is what I figured. Thanks for clarifying. They are aware that emails can/may be monitored. Naturally, I would only look for that email and not 'snoop' unless I have reason (and with SMT approval).

Is there a 'quick reference' guide to this kind of thing? As in, a 'focused' and stripped down DPA 'check list'?!?

[jamesb]

They're using a service that you're providing and hosting, and you've informed them that it may be monitored. Going into a kid's hotmail account would still contravene the act but unless you're falsifying evidence (or removing it, which doesn't apply in this case unless the e-mail's been read by the kid already) then I think you're fairly safe in your own e-mail environment.