Colleagues,
I met with a representative
from the Information Commissioner's Office on Friday, 10 July. He informed
me that, given the revised FOI publication scheme had now been in place for
a few months, it was the intention of the Information Commissioner to begin
testing police authority and force compliance with FOI publication schemes
within 6 weeks.
Last autumn, the APA agreed
with the Information Commissioner's office a model definition document for
police authorities to use in relation to the revised FOI publication
scheme. This can be found on the following link on the ICO
website:
By way of reminder, more
general guidance and information about the legal responsibilities of public
authorities under FOI can also be found on the ICO
website at:
It is clear from our meeting
that the ICO has particularly in its sights transparency of information about
chief officer pay and perks. However, it is also reasonable to assume
that, in light of the MPs expenses scandal, they will look at transparency
of information about members allowances and expenses, and pay/rewards of other
senior staff, as well as checking more general compliance
issues.
The test will initially comprise a
trawl of relevant websites. Where the information sought is published on
the website, authorities will hear no more about this. Where it is not,
ICO will follow up with FOI requests for the missing information. As long
as this is provided within the relevant time frame, authorities will be deemed
compliant. Only those authorities which do not provide the information
requested within the appropriate time limits will be subject to further
investigation. ICO have made it clear that, whilst
their preferred outcome is voluntary compliance, they are prepared to
use their full powers to ensure information relating to how public money is
spent is transparent and available to the public.
The contact at the ICO is happy
to speak to authorities individually to advise them about specific issues
if they are uncertain what to do. If any authority wishes to do this,
I am happy to supply the relevant contact information.
If you have any queries about
this, do please get in touch with me.
Regards
Cat
McIntyre
Association
of Police Authorities
15 Greycoat
Place | Westminster | London | SW1P
1BN
T: 0207
664 3185 | F: 0207 664 3191
E: cat.mcintyre@lga.gov.uk
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The
Association of Police Authorities (APA) represents all police
authorities in England,
Wales and
Northern
Ireland. It has two main functions: to act as the national voice of police
authorities and influence the national agenda on their behalf; and to help
police authorities do their job locally through the development of guidance and
advice on national policing, criminal justice and community safety related
issues.