Privacy policy

Updated December 2020

We are committed to protecting your personal information

SAMM is committed to respecting and keeping safe any personal information you share with us or that we get from other agencies/organisations. This privacy notice sets out the basis on which we will process personal information, however we collect it, such as through our website.

If you need to contact us in relation this policy and the information we store about you, please write to:

SAMM Office
L&DC
Tally Ho!
Pershore Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B5 7R

You can also contact our  Data Protection Officer on dpo@samm.org.uk.

This privacy notice provides an overview in relation to all personal information that SAMM processes.

When someone visits www.samm.org.uk or our secure forum we may occasionally share statistics and data with any third party for funding,or legal purposes. We will not share any personal data without prior  permission. We do not allow any third party to gain access to our website statistics or online forum other than members who have been given access.

If we do want to collect personally identifiable information through our websites, we will tell you about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and will explain what we intend to do with it.

Why we will hold your information and what we would do with it

We process personal information to:

  • Enable us to provide emotional and practical help to traumatically bereaved people.
  • Allow us to advocate or speak to a third party on behalf of a bereaved person, such as housing or the NHS
  • Campaign for change in the Criminal Justice Sector on areas affecting traumatically bereaved people
  • Conduct research into matters affecting people affected by murder and manslaughter
  • Keep in contact, communicate with, and get the views and input of our members
  • Fund raise in relation to services we provide to the bereaved
  • Support and manage our employees and volunteers

SAMM will always ensure that there is a legal basis for any processing of personal information it undertakes. We may process the personal information of individuals on a variety of different legal grounds such as

  • performing a public task in relation to delivering our services, or
  • for reasons of substantial public interest, or
  • under a legal obligation, or
  • it is in the vital interests of an individual

You have a right to object to the processing of information about you. See the section on ‘Your rights in relation to your personal information’ below.

Our services are supported by a variety of support functions and other legal bases for the processing of personal information may apply in relation to these, such as performance of a contract and employment obligations.

Your information may also be used for statistical purposes (statistical information is anonymous).

What information we hold In relation to delivering our services

The types of personal information that SAMM collects and processes in relation to services to bereaved people are:

  • Personal details, such as contact details, date of birth, and other personal information for identifying an individual
  • Brief details of any alleged or actual homicide committed against an individual or that an individual has witnessed
  • Details of individuals’ needs and the support provided to them, including case notes
  • Other details, including equality, diversity and inclusion data so that we can look to ensure our services are open to all

In relation to delivering other functions

Our organisation is occasionally supported by third party providers who provide us with personal information. These may include:

Personal details, such as contact details, date of birth, and other personal information for identifying an individual.

This information may also come from individuals via third parties such as donation sites including Paypal and Virgin Just Giving. Please contact us if you have a concern about the way we receive your information in relation to any payments received. All donations and information are securely passed to SAMM under third party privacy notices and Data protection policies. For more information please contact dpo@samm.org.uk.

Other personal information relating to individuals who make enquiries about our volunteering or fundraising opportunities will also be securely processed. Such data will only be used by SAMM to keep an accurate record of how your enquiry was handled. We will otherwise only contact you where you have opted to receive further updates from us. Anonymous statistics about staff and volunteers may be used for funding, contractual and legal obligations

Other personal data on staff or volunteers will be securely processed for the following purposes:

  • For administration and general management purposes
  • Other details individuals who choose to provide, including where applicable equality, diversity and inclusion data.

Why we would share your information In relation to delivering our services

In delivering our services SAMM will normally only share personal information with another agency/organisation with the consent of the individual concerned.

There are exceptional circumstances where we may have to disclose personal information without the individual’s consent. These are:

  • If we believe that either you or someone else is at risk of significant harm; SAMM individuals have a duty to report any issues relating to child protection or adult safeguarding
  • Where there is another legal reason or requirement to disclose your personal information, such as a court order or serious case review.

Agencies/organisations we may share your personal information with in relation to services to people affected by murder and manslaughter include:

  • Criminal Justice agencies such as the police and the Crown Prosecution Service
  • Other statutory agencies such as Local Authority agencies and National Health Service agencies
  • Voluntary sector partner agencies such as Victim Support.
  • Other agencies/organisations that can also help support you in relation to being affected by murder or manslaughter

SAMM may also share personal information with another organisation/agency that will process that information in relation to services to individuals, but this will only be in relation to a service that the individual has asked for.

What information we hold

SAMM has appropriate technical and organisational measures in place to protect the personal information of individuals. We use secure systems that permit the easy identification of the individual the personal information relates to.  SAMM’s own systems are all based in the UK. Where an individual has opted to receive further updates from SAMM from time to time we may use Survey Monkey and similar tools for communicating with you and carrying out surveys that may collect personal data relating to you. Data entered on some of these tools may go outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Data provided through third-party giving websites may also be processed outside of the EEA. No other personal data is transferred outside of the EEA.

How long do we retain your personal information for?

We  will not store and keep your personal information for longer than necessary and in line with  GDPR and the Data Protection Act.

Your rights in relation to your personal information

Data protection requirements mean that you have specific rights in relation to your personal information held by us. We can provide details on your rights in relation to your personal information held by us.

How to exercise your rights

You have the right to  access the personal information that we hold about you. You can ask for your information to be corrected or deleted, to update your contact preferences, or to object to our processing of your personal information – or if you have any questions about this privacy notice, please contact dpo@samm.org.uk

Where does personal information we hold about you come from?

In relation to delivering our services

People affected by murder and manslaughter are referred to SAMM by the police and by other agencies. These organisations pass personal information to us  on the basis of support and advocacy.

We ensure we receive personal information on the basis that we understand and have notice of a third parties own Data Protection and Privacy notice policy.

We also receive self-referrals from individuals who want to use our services. By accepting a self referral, a bereaved person is consenting to SAMM making contact with the individual and and storing their personal information.

We do not receive referrals of personal information that comes from publicly accessible sources.

Any personal information that we do collect will only consist of what is necessary for us to meet these requirements and will be processed in line with the rights of the individual the personal information is about.

Other personal information that SAMM processes is received direct from the individual concerned.

Do we use your personal information for automated decision making?

SAMM does not use this function and does not take part in “automated decisions”.

Changes to this policy

SAMM reserves the right to update this policy for legal or internal purposes.