THE personal details of people in Oxfordshire on an edited version of the electoral register have been sold more than 50 times in six years to companies and individuals by councils in the region.

A report published this week by the campaign group Big Brother Watch shows the electoral roll details of people, including their full names and addresses, were sold 52 times between 2007 and 2012.

Phone numbers are not included.

South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) clocked up one of the highest number of sales in the country, having sold information 31 times.

Cherwell District Council sold information nine times, West Oxfordshire District Council seven times and Vale of White Horse District Council five times.

Oxford City Council did not respond to the request, while Oxfordshire County Council does not hold electoral roll details. People can opt out of having their information sold on to third parties.

Wallingford resident Raffaella Scorretti, 40, said: “I didn’t know I could opt out. I get enough cold calls as it is – to the point that I sometimes don’t answer the phone any more.”

SODC made £641.50 from the sales. West Oxfordshire made £162.50 and the Vale of White Horse earned £168.10.

David Buckle, chief executive at SODC and the Vale, said: “The council is required by law to sell the edited register on request. We have no choice.”