This privacy notice explains what information we will collect about you through participation in the ‘Let’s Talk About Domestic Abuse in Knowsley’ survey and public engagement, how we store this information, who we share this information with and how we keep it safe and confidential.
We want you to be confident that your information is kept safe, secure and for you to understand how and why we use it. It sets out how Knowsley Council will use data collected from residents engaging with surveys or speaking with Council Officers.
You can decide whether to complete the survey and you can decide how much or how little you wish to complete. Please be aware that, because we do not ask for information that would directly identify you, it is unlikely you would be able to withdraw your answers after you have returned the survey.
This survey asks questions about domestic abuse. These topics may be upsetting and distressing, especially if you have ever experienced any sort of violence or abuse. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, you can stop answering the survey and seek support from a trusted friend, family member or professional support service. You can also reach out for support from:
- The First Step – Knowsley Domestic Abuse Support - 0151 548 3333
- Safer Communities Service – Domestic Abuse Support - 0151 443 2610
- Women’s Aid Helpline - 0808 2000 247
- Rape and Sexual Abuse (RASA) – 0151 666 1392
- Victim Care Merseyside – 0808 175 3080
- Savera UK – 0800 107 0726
- Catch 22 – 07989 241 502
- GALOP, Support for LGBTQIA+ victims – 0800 999 5428
- Childline – 0800 1111
- If you are in serious or immediate risk, call 999.
Who will own my data once I submit it?
Knowsley Council
What type of information will you be processing?
When completing the survey, we may process parts of your personal data. The survey may appear to be anonymous as we will not be asking for any specific personal details that would directly identify you, for example, your name, date of birth, address. However, we may be able to identify you through the collective answers you choose to provide on the survey such as age range, sexual orientation, ethnicity and disability or special educational need. We are required to make you aware of this.
Your participation in the survey is entirely optional; by participating you are consenting to the information provided being used for the purposes below. You do not have to complete this survey and you can choose to complete as much or as little as you would like to. There are ‘Prefer not to say’ options on all questions.
Why do you need my information?
We will use the information you choose to provide to inform the development of the Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls strategies and other areas of work delivering services for the benefit of community safety. This helps Knowsley Council to:
- Ensure we are designing services around the needs of our communities.
- Work towards the goal of achieving the Knowsley Council Plan objectives:
- Effective support for those in need
- Encourage growth that benefits everyone
- Deliver targeted support to encourage fairness and opportunity
Renewing the Domestic Abuse Strategy and publishing a new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy helps the Council and its partners to ensure we are meeting its legislative and statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which seeks to address the support needs of domestic abuse victims (including children) and specifies that local authorities must develop and implement a local strategy in consultation with a multi-agency Domestic Abuse Partnership Board. Also, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which requires that local authorities work with police and other partners to develop and implement strategies to reduce crime and disorder through the Community Safety Partnership.
Knowsley Council will collect and analyse the findings from completed surveys to understand the views and experience of those who live, work, study or spend time in Knowsley about domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. The anonymous and aggregated data will be shared with the above specified multi-agency statutory steering groups (Domestic Abuse Partnership Board and Community Safety Partnership) for which there is an Information Sharing Agreement in place. Aggregated summary data from this survey may also be used to support headline pieces within local publications such as Knowsley News and others which may be shared on social media.
Questions are not mandatory, you may choose to complete all, part of some of the survey.
What allows you to use my information?
- Completing the survey is a voluntary act on your part to help us inform our work in domestic abuse and community safety across Knowsley.
- By completing the survey, you are giving your consent for the data you give to be used.
The legal bases which allow the Council to lawfully process your data fall under the UK General Data Protection Regulation.
Article 6 (1) (a) Consent. “the individual has given clear consent for you to process their personal data for a specific purpose”.
By choosing to complete the survey, you give Knowsley Council consent to process the data you provide. As previously mentioned, this data will in the main be anonymised data and due to this reason, it is unlikely you would be able to retract your contribution once entered.
Article 6(1) (e) Public Task. “processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official functions, and the task or function has a clear basis in law”. The relevant legislation that supports Knowsley Council in processing this information under the lawful basis of public task is the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
This survey asks limited personal data that is defined by the UK GDPR as special category data (ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability or special educational needs).
Article 9(2) (g) Substantial Public Interest. This states that the processing of special category personal data is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest.
The relevant lawful conditions under the Data Protection Act 2018 are as follows:
- Schedule 1, Paragraph 6, Statutory and government purposes.
- Schedule 1, Paragraph 8, Equality of opportunity and treatment.
Who will my information be shared with?
Aggregated and anonymous data gathered from this survey will be used by internal services within Knowsley Council and shared with the Community Safety Partnership, Domestic Abuse Partnership Board and Executive group which include partners from Children’s and Adults Social Care, Housing, Health, Police, Probation, Community and Voluntary Services. The Council will not share the data with any other third party.
Do I have to provide this information and what will happen if I don’t?
No, participation is entirely voluntary and not a legal requirement. You can decide whether to participate or not, and you can decide how much or how little you wish to participate. There is a ‘prefer not to say’ option on each question.
How long will you keep this data for and why?
The anonymous data will be held by Knowsley Council for a period of up to 5 years following the end of the engagement and consultation period. Your responses will be stored for a period of up to 2 years following the end of the engagement and consultation period.
How will my information be stored?
Anonymised electronic survey data held by Knowsley Council will be stored on a secure electronic system.
Will this information be used to take automated decisions about me?
No.
Will my data be transferred abroad and why?
No.
What rights do I have when it comes to my data?
Under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 / UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), you have the following rights with regards to your personal data: -
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The right to subject access
You have the right to see a copy of the personal data that the council holds about you and find out what it is used for.
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The right to rectification
You have the right to ask the council to correct or remove any inaccurate data that we hold about you.
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The right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
You have the right to ask the council to remove data that we hold about you.
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The right to restriction
You have the right to ask for your information to be restricted (locked down) on council systems.
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The right to data portability
You have the right to ask for your data to be transferred back to you or to a new provider at your request.
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The right to object
You have the right to ask the council to stop using your personal data or to stop sending you marketing information or complain about how your data is used.
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The right to prevent automated decision making
You have the right to ask the council to stop using your data to make automated decisions about you or to stop profiling your behaviour (where applicable).
To find out more about your rights under the DPA 2018/UK GDPR, please visit the Information Commissioner’s website here.
To request a copy of your data or ask questions about how it is used, please download a copy of our form and send it to: -
Data Protection Officer
Knowsley Council
Westmorland Road
Huyton
L36 9GL
Or email: Inforights@knowsley.gov.uk
Who can I complain to if I am unhappy about how my data is used?
You can complain directly to the Council’s Data Protection Team by writing to: -
Data Protection Officer
Knowsley Council
Westmorland Road
Huyton
L36 9GL
Or email: data.protection.officer@knowsley.gov.uk
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office using the following details: -
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Changes to our privacy notice
We will update this privacy notice from time to time to reflect any changes to our ways of working. Please contact our Data Protection Officer if you would like more information.
Date Privacy notice last updated November 2025.