Freedom of Information Introduction

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, 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 must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and supplied with a copy of that information. The Act includes a range of provisions that exempt certain information from the right of access.

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 a 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 Police Service has had an approved Publication Scheme in place since 1st June 2003, updated as of 1st January 2009.

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.