August 26, 2025
By Matt Bruce, Managing Director at Bruce & Butler
Across the UK, many local councils are quietly grappling with a growing challenge, a backlog of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs). Each request may involve years of correspondence, detailed case histories and sensitive personal data. For already stretched council teams, even a small number of DSARs can quickly become overwhelming.
Local councils handle vast volumes of personal information every day. Social care records, housing files, planning documents and community services all create significant data footprints. When DSARs arrive faster than they can be processed, a backlog is inevitable.
Staff changes, sickness, budget pressures and seasonal surges make it harder to stay on top of deadlines. Once a backlog forms, the urgency is no longer about a single case but about regaining control before the situation escalates.
Delays in responding to DSARs carry serious risks. Missing the statutory deadline can lead to regulator attention, complaints from residents and a loss of public trust. In some cases, delays can have direct consequences for individuals awaiting important information.
The challenge is meeting these obligations while keeping core services running. This is where a trusted external partner can make an immediate difference.
At Bruce & Butler, we provide councils with specialist DSAR support that clears backlogs quickly and discreetly. This can include:
Full operational delivery – Managing the complete DSAR process from data searches to redaction and secure delivery.
Partial support – Handling specific tasks such as redaction or quality checks, while council staff oversee other stages.
Quality assurance – Reviewing draft responses to ensure consistency, privilege protection and full compliance.
The aim is not to replace council teams but to give them breathing space, protect compliance and allow them to focus on community services.
Councils know their residents. We know DSARs. Our experience means we can deliver responses that are accurate, compliant and regulator-ready. We work quietly in the background, always under the council’s direction, and always focused on clearing backlogs without adding disruption.
“When a council hands us a backlog, they are not losing control,” says Matt Bruce. “They are making a practical decision to protect compliance, reduce pressure on their teams and restore public confidence. We get in, get the jobdone and get them back on track.”
DSAR backlogs do not clear themselves. With the right partner, they can be resolved efficiently and with complete confidence.
If your council needs urgent and confidential help to clear a DSAR backlog, contact Matt Bruce directly today. Your enquiry will be handled discreetly and you will receive a clear plan to get back on track without delay.