Act of FOI requests are handled slowly

Editors who are frustrated by slow replies under the Freedom of Information Act should complain to the Information Commissioner.

The ICO has served an enforcement notice on the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) because 69 requests were not resolved within the deadline.

The notice compels the IPCC to shift the backlog by the end of September and gives a shot across the bows to other authorities that are slow responding.

Graham Smith, Deputy Commissioner, said: “This enforcement notice serves as a strong signal to all public authorities that failure to respond is unacceptable.”

Failure to comply with an enforcement notice could result in the Commissioner referring the matter to the High Court for contempt of court.

Editors should remind authorities of the ruling if they drag their heels.

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