Interview memo redaction is the removal of personal data from a notes summary taken during a workplace investigation. Taking part is protected: giving evidence or information is a protected act under Equality Act 2010 s.27(2)(b), and the memo itself is part of what a tribunal reviews for reasonableness under ERA 1996 s.98(4). anonym.plus marks names and contacts on your device.
When this applies
The memo records who was asked what, naming the speaker and others. You strip those identifiers before the summary moves beyond the lead.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the document in anonym.plus on your device.
- The app marks the speaker and named third parties.
- Built-in OCR reads scanned handwritten notes.
- Keep the questions and observed facts in place.
- Swap or black out the confirmed identifiers.
- Save the clean copy locally.
What you need to provide
- The notes summary (PDF, DOCX, or scan).
- An operator (Replace keeps the memo readable).
- Optional alias map for a repeat speaker.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | the speaker → [WITNESS] |
| Names | PERSON | the accused → [RESPONDENT] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | w@example.co.uk → [EMAIL] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | asked 3 June → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | the HR office → [LOCATION] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | +44 141 496 1180 → [PHONE] |
Compliance achieved
- Protects a participant whose evidence is a protected act under Equality Act 2010 s.27(2)(b).
- Keeps the questions and answers a reasonableness review under ERA 1996 s.98(4) examines.
- Holds to the accuracy duty in UK GDPR Art. 5(1)(d) — correct a note, never quietly rewrite it.
- Prepares the memo for a later access request: UK GDPR Art. 15(3) gives a copy, Art. 15(4) limits what it may expose about others.
- Keeps the investigation record the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures expects, offline on your machine.
Anonymise investigation interview memos offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
Keeping a witness anonymous is hard. The summary often holds rare clues, such as a role or a shift, that re-identify them after names go. Redacting your working copy does not answer a subject access request on its own — Art. 15(4) and DPA 2018 Sch. 2 Part 3 still require a case-by-case judgement about each third party. Verify OCR output on handwriting.
Frequently asked questions
Should I redact people the speaker names?
Often yes. Third parties in the notes may need shielding too. The app marks the speaker and others for your review.
Does the accused get to see the memo?
Fair process under the ACAS Code means the case must be put to them, which usually means sharing the substance. Redacting identifiers lets you do that while limiting what is exposed about witnesses.
Can it read handwritten notes?
Built-in OCR reads typed and clear scanned text best. Verify markings on handwriting, since OCR can miss strokes.