Safeguards against DWP employees & the Press?

You often read stories in a media concerning unusual Claimants Claims.
Ive often wondered how these 'come to light'if they are not in the public domain
eg court cases or gossping neighbours and have come to the conclusion that
a number of them must be the result of DWP junior employees giving stories to a media.
Sometimes such stores can be obtained by a free lunch or small payment.
Claimants often find such stories disturbing and offensive.
What safeguards have they against DWP employees behaving in this manner if they find themselves the subject of one and perhaps have suspicions of its source?

James wrote: You often read stories in a media concerning unusual Claimants Claims.
Ive often wondered how these 'come to light'if they are not in the public domain
eg court cases or gossping neighbours and have come to the conclusion that
a number of them must be the result of DWP junior employees giving stories to a media.
Sometimes such stores can be obtained by a free lunch or small payment.
Claimants often find such stories disturbing and offensive.
What safeguards have they against DWP employees behaving in this manner if they find themselves the subject of one and perhaps have suspicions of its source?

Hi J,

How the DWP and other organisations store and control a claimant's/individual's personal information is governed by The Data Protection Act 1998.

If it could be proven that the DWP or any such organisation had shared or made public any such data, they could be held in contravention of The DPA 1998.

See :

DWP Data Protection Policy

&

www.ico.org.uk/

bro58

Are not all Civil Servants also bound by the gagging order of "The Official Secrets Act"which they are required to sign on joining?
Also when they leave they have to get permission to write a book/speak to a Media etc?