About FOI
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of
access to all types of recorded information held by public
authorities including the Police Service. It sets out exemptions
from that right and places a number of obligations on public
authorities. Any person who makes a request to a public authority
for information must be informed whether the public authority holds
that information and, subject to exemptions, supplied with that
information.
Individuals already have the right of access to information
about themselves under the
Data Protection Act 1998. As far as public
authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information Act will
extend this right to allow public access to all types of
information held. This individual right of access to information
came into effect on 1st January 2005.
Public authorities are required to adopt and maintain a
publication scheme setting out the classes of information it holds,
the manner in which it intends to publish the information, and
whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of
the scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is
available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are
intended to encourage organisations to publish more information
pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness. The City
of London Police was required to have an approved publication
scheme in place by 30th June 2003.
The Act is enforced by the
Information Commissioner (the "Commissioner"),
a post that combines regulation of both the Freedom of Information
and Data Protection Acts.