Law - 17 November

Freedom of Inofrmation requests and Invesitgative journalism was on our agenda this week. Julie Cordier recently had a very fruitful FOI request. We had an exclusive on WINOL. This was about the fact that some officers on the police force have criminal records. She was able to find this out from an FOI request she sent asking a very direct question.

Anybody is able to make an FOI request to any public authority. Only the UK security and intelligence agencies are exempt from having to give information through an FOI request. Every other company has to give you information. When filling out a request you have to be very specific otherwise they can refuse and will ask you to narrow your search. This could go on for months. The authority has 20 days to get the information to you or has to send you a reason as to why they can not get it to you within the 20 days. Your search not being specific enough would qualify as to why they can not send it to you within the 20 days; maybe there is too much. An FOI request is also free unless getting the information costs more than £600. Or if it is more than £450 for local councils.

The following website give guidelines on this act as well as amendments when they happen. With law amendments can be made and rules changed so as journalists we need to keep up to date with the new or changed rules regarding FOI requests and other media acts and laws. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/introduction

Photo By: Auntie P