Council legal boss faces data probe

5 May 2010

The most senior legal officer at Highland Council is to face an investigation over allegations she breached data protection laws in an ongoing dispute over roadside travellers' camps in Inverness.

The conduct of Leslie Johnstone, the authority's head of legal and democratic services, will be probed by both the Information Commissioner and the Law Society for Scotland.

She is accused of passing confidential e-mails to the GMB union - a move which councillors John Holden, Bob Wynd and Glynis Sinclair say breaches data protection laws.

After they complained to the council last month about the officer's handling of information, they demanded an external investigation was carried out. However, the council refused and they have now called in the Law Society and Information Commissioner.

It is the latest twist in complex saga which also involves the the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Standards Commission for Scotland and the Tribunals Service.

The councillors deny any wrongdoing but cannot comment until the Standards Commission completes its investigation.

Ms Johnstone could not be contacted and nobody from Highland Council was available for comment.

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