RYEDALE District Council have made more than £6,500 over the last five years by selling the details of those on the electoral roll.

A freedom of information request revealed that the council has been generating around £1,000 a year between 2011 and 2016 through the sale of names and addresses on the electoral and open registers. The most made in one year was £1684 in the year 2015/16.

Councils are required by law to sell the information if it is requested.

A spokesperson for the council explained: “Electoral registration officers keep two registers – the electoral register and the open register (also known as the edited register). The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. Credit reference agencies are entitled to purchase a copy of the electoral register for a prescribed fee.

“The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation, for a prescribed fee.

“Electors’ names and addresses will be included in the open register unless they ask for them to be removed when they register to vote. This is all clearly explained on the application to register form.

“The electoral register and the open register only contain names and addresses and not other contact details held by the electoral registration officers, such as telephone numbers and email addresses. These other contact details are not available to any organisations who purchase the register.

“The arrangements regarding who can purchase the register and the prescribed fees are set down in national rules and regulations and are not something over which the electoral registration officer or local council has any discretion.”

James Baker, campaigns manager for pressure group NO 2 ID, said they were concerned that some people - for example domestic violence victims, people in debt and ex-service members - may be deterred from registering to vote due to this information being sold, but added that there is a mechanism for such people to register anonymously if they wish.

He said: “Our position is that we think the information collected for the electoral roll should only be used for elections, by the police and possibly credit reference agencies.”