Big Brother Watch is currently in the process of conducting an investigation, a report on which will be released in the coming weeks, into an aspect of Police policy.
In order to do this, we have submitted Freedom of Information requests to Police forces across the country.
Statutorily, public service bodies are obliged to respond to Freedom of Information requests within a mandatory period of twenty working days. An overwhelming majority of Police forces have responded to our request in time, with the information we requested enclosed.
Sadly, Northamptonshire Police do not appear to think that Freedom of Information laws apply to them. This morning - a day after the statutory deadline for responses passed - we received this e-mail:
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Our Ref: 002132/11
With reference to your e-mail received 01/06/2011 requesting information:
This is to inform you that Northamptonshire Police will not be able to complete the response to your request by the date originally indicated. However, I can advise you that the amended date for a response is 28/7/11, and that every effort will be made to ensure that you receive an appropriate response as soon as possible and in any case within this new timescale.
On behalf of Northamptonshire Police, I do apologies [sic] for any inconvenience that may be caused by this delay and if you wish to discuss this any further then please contact the undersigned.
Northamptonshire Police provides a review and appeals procedure within the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If you decide to make an appeal and, having followed the full process you are still dissatisfied, you will then have the right to direct your comments to the Information Commissioner who will give due consideration to the matter. See Appendix 'a' attached.
Yours sincerely
Terri Collis
Information Unit
Northamptonshire Police
Data Protection/Freedom of Information
Telephone 03000 111 222 x2339 Facsimile 01604 888304
Email terri.collis@northants.pnn.police.uk
Not only have Northamptonshire Police failed to respond in a timely manner to a Freedom of Information request the majority of other forces have responded to, they also appear to believe it's acceptable to deliver this information a month late.
While this is clearly unacceptable, Northamptonshire Police's intransigence is far from being an isolated case. We'd refer them to the Information Commissioner if we had even a modicum of confidence in his office to enforce penalties against those failing to comply with FOI regulations.
Why do so many public bodies believe it's acceptable to openly flout Freedom of Information laws?
Lets examine this shall we?
You made a request, they did not meet the deadline-but advised you of this, with an expected date for a response and outlining routes of further appeal.
Granted, a breach of Section 1, but not the end of the world. I think you will find that if you did refer it to the Commissioner he would slap their wrists..and rightly so.
Personally I am more concerned at the massive use of the Freedom of Information Act by arms-length party political bodies who deluge public authorities with requests for information and then present (or is that mis-represent perhap?) a very selective set of findings to their cronies at the Daily Wail et al.
Much more of an abuse really.
Frankly I am surprised you and the TPA are still going. Given that Cameron (sort of but...not quite) won the election, why are you not all in full-time cosy "special adviser" posts in Whitehall?
Still, you do amuse me at least.
Posted by: Jim | 30/06/2011 at 07:53 PM
Things are getting personal...maybe BBW is on to something?
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Posted by: MBT Shoes | 04/07/2011 at 07:43 AM
My local authority was recently presented with an FOI request demanding to know what contingency plans they had in place for dealing with a zombie attack. I would greatly respect them if they DID flout the law in such cases, rather than wasting taxpayer cash placating the loonies.
In an ideal world ...
"Dear Council, what contingency plans do you have for dealing with zombie attacks? Yours A.Nutter."
"Dear A.Nutter, None. Bog off. Yours The Council"
Posted by: Richard Craven | 09/07/2011 at 08:16 AM