Business in Brighton raided over ‘nuisance calls’

Following a year-long investigation, two teams of ICO enforcement officers executed search warrants at offices in Brighton and Birmingham today (Tuesday, March 12).

An ICO spokesperson said, “The businesses are suspected of making millions of calls to UK landline and mobile numbers. The ICO has received nearly 600 complaints about the businesses.

“The calls mainly concerned road traffic accidents, personal injury claims, and insurance for household goods. People who received the calls were unable to identify who the calls were from or opt out of them. This is against the law.”

Enforcement officers seized computer equipment and documents for analysis. The ICO’s enquiries into the alleged breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, the laws surrounding unsolicited telephone marketing, will continue.

Andy Curry, who heads up the anti nuisance call team at the ICO, said: “Today’s searches will fire a clear warning shot to business owners who operate outside the law by making nuisance marketing calls to people who have no wish to receive them.

“The evidence seized will help us identify any illegal business activities and assist us to take enforcement action, which may include action against the directors, on behalf of the victims who have turned to us for help.”