Introduction
Who are we as a charitable organisation?
Naturewatch Foundation is a Non-Government Organisation [NGO] animal welfare charity fully committed towards its purpose of working to improve the lives of animals. The charities mission is to end animal cruelty and advance animal welfare standards around the world.
Legislation
It is a legal requirement that our charity processes data correctly; we must collect, handle and store personal data in accordance with the relevant legislation. The relevant legislation in relation to the processing of data is:
The Charity holds a variety of data relating to individuals (herein also referred to as data subjects) who have been brought to our attention, which is known as ‘personal data’. The personal data held and processed by the Charity is detailed within this privacy notice under Privacy and Data Policy.
“Personal Data” is that from which a living individual can be identified either by that data alone, or in conjunction with other data held by the Charity. In exceptional circumstances the information we gather during our investigations and intelligence collection may hold some that is sensitive in nature (i.e. relates to or reveals a data subject’s racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, political opinions, relates to health or sexual orientation). This “Special Category Personal Data” or “Sensitive Personal Data” is handled in line with GDPR requirements
Processing of personal data
The Charity is permitted to process personal data provided it is doing so for one of the following grounds:
Naturewatch Foundation, therefore, actively collects information on individuals who are suspected of being involved with or participating in wildlife crime related to hunting with dogs, illegal dog breeding or the breach of those animal welfare standards.
Privacy and data policy
Naturewatch Foundation makes a commitment to protecting your privacy at all times and promises only to use information collected in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Your rights
The Data Protection legislation gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the legislation. You also have the following rights which can be exercised in accordance with the legislation:
How we protect your information
When contacting our covert investigators either by means of the online submission forms, email or telephone, for the purpose of informing us of suspected animal crimes linked to hunting with dogs or puppy farming, any personal data or contact information provided and held by Naturewatch Foundation will be held securely. When reports are received by our covert investigators, we will collect personal data. For example:
Your personal data / contact details will only be passed onto relevant investigation authorities (e.g., Police, Local Authority) as part of a judicial process directly relevant to the information provided.
As a safeguard one of our covert investigators will contact you prior to any disclosure to assess any risk or wish for your personal contact details to be withheld by Naturewatch Foundation.
We collect and process personal data in relation to subjects under investigation or suspected of committing wildlife crime by hunting with dogs, other related wildlife crime and those involved in illegal dog breeding and/or the breach of welfare standards as part of our wider campaigns.
What information do we collect?
Our investigations team will lawfully and ethically collect, process and where legally justified, share personal data in support of our campaigns for the following purposes:
Who do we process data about?
We collect personal data using the lawful purpose of Legitimate Interest on:
The personal data collected will be used to assist our campaign objectives of ending animal cruelty and advancing animal welfare standards around the world through developing and pursuing criminal investigations, or through media expose.
Who we share information with:
As we have no regulatory powers, there are occasions when we need to work collaboratively with those who can enforce the law when we present evidence of animal crimes. In these cases, we may share personal data we have collected to fulfil legal obligations and/or in order to prevent and detect crime.
When required, personal data collected in our investigations may on occasions be shared with:
Other processing, we may need to carry out
Additional processing of data may be necessary as part of our investigations into reports received of animal crimes. In this case, we may be requested or obliged by law enforcement, other NGOs, public authorities, or a regulatory body, to provide details of the individuals and people who are being investigated.
How long we keep Investigation Data for?
Personal data collected through our investigations and intelligence process will be reviewed after six years and either deleted or retained for a further five years (if assessed as being still relevant)
This policy is dated: 12/10/2021 and is subject to amendments, whereby the policy will be redated accordingly.
- This privacy policy is a sub-section to our main privacy policy to explain how the Charity, Naturewatch Foundation, collects and processes its data as part of our investigation and intelligence work.
- In order to support our charitable aims and objectives Naturewatch Foundation collects and processes certain information about individuals. Naturewatch Foundation collects data from a variety of sources supplied through our Named Individual initiative in relation to Wildlife crime, related to hunting with dogs and Puppy Farming campaigns and through wider research.
- Naturewatch Foundation is committed to ensuring the secure and safe management of personal data held by the charity in relation to individuals that we investigate for animal crime in relation to our Hunting with dogs and Puppy Farming campaigns. Naturewatch Foundation experienced professional investigative team have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the terms of this policy, and to manage individuals’ data in accordance with the procedures outlined in this policy.
- This Policy sets out Naturewatch Foundation obligations in processing that data, and the purpose of this policy is to set out the procedures for the management of such data as part of our investigation process.
- Reporting of suspected wildlife crime regarding hunting with dogs, and animal crime in relation to the illegal breeding of dogs and breaches of animal welfare relevant to our charitable objectives are investigated in line with the expectations of the UK judicial processes. In addition to GDPR we have obligations to other competing legislation which can only be achieved using a lawful purpose of legitimate interest.
Who are we as a charitable organisation?
Naturewatch Foundation is a Non-Government Organisation [NGO] animal welfare charity fully committed towards its purpose of working to improve the lives of animals. The charities mission is to end animal cruelty and advance animal welfare standards around the world.
In support of this Naturewatch Foundation has an intelligence and investigations function which includes a Named Individual initiative, which is a function available for anyone to report animal crime and matters relating to our campaigns. Those people providing information to Naturewatch Foundation’s covert investigators are invited to provide their names and contact details.
Legislation
It is a legal requirement that our charity processes data correctly; we must collect, handle and store personal data in accordance with the relevant legislation. The relevant legislation in relation to the processing of data is:
- The General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“the GDPR”).
- The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 and
- Any legislation that, in respect of the United Kingdom, replaces, or enacts into United Kingdom domestic law, the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the proposed Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications or any other law relating to data protection, the processing of personal data and privacy as a consequence of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union
The Charity holds a variety of data relating to individuals (herein also referred to as data subjects) who have been brought to our attention, which is known as ‘personal data’. The personal data held and processed by the Charity is detailed within this privacy notice under Privacy and Data Policy.
“Personal Data” is that from which a living individual can be identified either by that data alone, or in conjunction with other data held by the Charity. In exceptional circumstances the information we gather during our investigations and intelligence collection may hold some that is sensitive in nature (i.e. relates to or reveals a data subject’s racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, political opinions, relates to health or sexual orientation). This “Special Category Personal Data” or “Sensitive Personal Data” is handled in line with GDPR requirements
Processing of personal data
The Charity is permitted to process personal data provided it is doing so for one of the following grounds:
- Processing with the consent of the data subject.
- Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract between the Charity and the data subject or for entering into a contract with the data subject.
- Processing is necessary for the Charities compliance with a legal obligation.
- Processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another person.
- Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of the Charities official authority; or
- Processing is necessary for the purposes of legitimate interests.
Naturewatch Foundation, therefore, actively collects information on individuals who are suspected of being involved with or participating in wildlife crime related to hunting with dogs, illegal dog breeding or the breach of those animal welfare standards.
Privacy and data policy
Naturewatch Foundation makes a commitment to protecting your privacy at all times and promises only to use information collected in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- Naturewatch Foundation is a registered Charity and is also registered with the Information Commissioner in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
- Naturewatch Foundation recognises that information security is a key element of data protection according to article 32 of the GDPR and takes appropriate measures to secure personal data (both electronic and manual) and protect it from loss or unauthorised disclosure or damage.
- Naturewatch Foundation is the data controller of the personal data we process and therefore is responsible for ensuring our systems, processes, suppliers, and staff comply with data protection laws in relation to the information we handle.
Your rights
The Data Protection legislation gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the legislation. You also have the following rights which can be exercised in accordance with the legislation:
- Right to be informed.
- Right to access your data.
- Right to rectify any information you believe is incorrect.
- Right to erase your data.
- Right to restrict processing of your data.
- Right to object to processing.
- Right to withdraw your consent if that is the basis of processing.
How we protect your information
When contacting our covert investigators either by means of the online submission forms, email or telephone, for the purpose of informing us of suspected animal crimes linked to hunting with dogs or puppy farming, any personal data or contact information provided and held by Naturewatch Foundation will be held securely. When reports are received by our covert investigators, we will collect personal data. For example:
- We will ask for your details and contact information using our lawful purpose of legitimate interest.
- Location of the reported crime.
- Information about the animal crime and those involved or campaign related information
- How this information is known
- Request evidence/online links to be shared directly with us
- We may also receive personal data from third parties when sharing information through information sharing agreements or other legal sharing processes
Your personal data / contact details will only be passed onto relevant investigation authorities (e.g., Police, Local Authority) as part of a judicial process directly relevant to the information provided.
As a safeguard one of our covert investigators will contact you prior to any disclosure to assess any risk or wish for your personal contact details to be withheld by Naturewatch Foundation.
We collect and process personal data in relation to subjects under investigation or suspected of committing wildlife crime by hunting with dogs, other related wildlife crime and those involved in illegal dog breeding and/or the breach of welfare standards as part of our wider campaigns.
What information do we collect?
Our investigations team will lawfully and ethically collect, process and where legally justified, share personal data in support of our campaigns for the following purposes:
- Prevention and detection of wildlife and animal crime
- Develop information on those suspected of wildlife and animal crime
- In support of our campaigns
Who do we process data about?
We collect personal data using the lawful purpose of Legitimate Interest on:
- Personal data (name and contact details of those contacting us)
- Personal data relating to those reported to us
- Personal data to support our charitable objectives.
The personal data collected will be used to assist our campaign objectives of ending animal cruelty and advancing animal welfare standards around the world through developing and pursuing criminal investigations, or through media expose.
Who we share information with:
As we have no regulatory powers, there are occasions when we need to work collaboratively with those who can enforce the law when we present evidence of animal crimes. In these cases, we may share personal data we have collected to fulfil legal obligations and/or in order to prevent and detect crime.
When required, personal data collected in our investigations may on occasions be shared with:
- Law enforcement (Police / HMRC/ National Wildlife Crime Unit)
- Other NGO’s (Animal Welfare Charities)
- Other public authorities (e.g. Local Authorities (Licensing, Trading Standards & Environmental Health)
- When required to comply with legal obligations.
Other processing, we may need to carry out
Additional processing of data may be necessary as part of our investigations into reports received of animal crimes. In this case, we may be requested or obliged by law enforcement, other NGOs, public authorities, or a regulatory body, to provide details of the individuals and people who are being investigated.
How long we keep Investigation Data for?
Personal data collected through our investigations and intelligence process will be reviewed after six years and either deleted or retained for a further five years (if assessed as being still relevant)
This policy is dated: 12/10/2021 and is subject to amendments, whereby the policy will be redated accordingly.
