Urban explorer finds files in empty council sites

The UK's information watchdog says it has been alerted to the discovery of potentially sensitive files by an urban explorer at an unoccupied council building in West Sussex.

West Sussex County Council said it was investigating how a man accessed Durban House in Bognor and The Grange in Chichester on Wednesday.

The urban explorer - someone who accesses disused buildings and records the contents - claimed on social media to have found documents including blue badge application forms and foster care paperwork inside the buildings.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it was "assessing the information" provided by the council, which had reported the incident.

A council spokesperson said: "The council is treating this situation seriously and is taking swift action to address it.

"Steps are being taken to confirm that all material stored is done so securely, with material held at these two locations being relocated while investigations into how access was gained are carried out."

They said that the authority would "comply with all subsequent requests" from the ICO, adding that it would consider legal action against anyone involved.

According to the council's website, Durban House has been closed "until further notice". The site flooded in October 2023.

The Grange also closed in October 2023, when services moved to an adjacent building.

Urban exploring can amount to trespassing if properties are entered without the owner's permission, and is generally treated as a civil dispute.

Under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) protocols, personal data must be stored securely and kept for no longer than necessary.

Sussex Police said that a 22-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of using threating, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or unlawful violence, and has been bailed.

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