‘The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued new guidance for employers on how to handle subject access requests (SARs).’
OUT-LAW.com, 1st June 2023
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘A new Cabinet Office policy has recently been published which provides guidance on the use of instant messaging technologies, such as WhatsApp, by government officials. The policy discourages the use of non-corporate communications channels (“NCCCs”), particularly when these platforms are accessed on personal devices. The new policy is a welcome development in the regulation of “government by WhatsApp,” and demonstrates better practice with respect to the public law duties which are applicable in this context, namely, the Public Records Act 1958, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the common law duty of candour.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd April 2023
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘A police force was wrong to dismiss as vexatious freedom of information requests from a disgraced former MP, an appeal has ruled. Overturning a decision by the information commissioner, the Information Rights Tribunal reminded South Yorkshire Police that the way to avoid being chased for missing a deadline is not to miss it in the first place.’
Law Society's Gazette, 21st April 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Police unlawfully spied on children as young as 10 taking part in a climate strike protest in London, documents have shown.’
The Guardian, 5th December 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Matthew Alderton examines past disciplinary cases, regulatory action and recent judicial review challenges that show the various dangers that public bodies could face by allowing staff to communicate via WhatsApp and other social media.social media.’
Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2022
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Two government departments have been reprimanded by a watchdog for not responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on time.’
BBC News, 8th September 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Department of Health has been reprimanded over ministers’ and officials’ use of messaging apps and private email during the pandemic.’
BBC News, 11th July 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”) does not permit aggregation of the separate public interests in favour of maintaining different exemptions when weighing the maintenance of the exemptions against the public interest which favours disclosure of the information sought, the Upper Tribunal has ruled.’
Local Government Lawyer, 5th May 2022
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘A recent Upper Tribunal ruling has revealed the existence of eight cases where the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) (Information Rights) joined the Information Commissioner as a respondent to contempt applications made in respect of alleged failures by a party to meet obligations imposed on it by earlier FTT decisions, it has emerged.’
Local Government Lawyer, 25th April 2022
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘The UK’s data watchdog has warned that it is important “official records are kept” as Downing Street staff face an investigation over allegations of lockdown-breaking.’
The Independent, 13th January 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Public law specialists have begun legal proceedings against the Information Commissioner’s Office over publication of Whitehall submissions on judicial review that have influenced controversial reforms.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th December 2021
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘A government health watchdog is considering legal action against a private health company whose laboratory gave at least 43,000 people potentially false negative Covid-19 test results.’
The Guardian, 8th December 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Private outsourcing companies that win government contracts should be subject to freedom of information rules, according to the outgoing information commissioner, who warned the existing transparency law is no longer fit for the modern age.’
The Guardian, 25th November 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Cabinet Office has been accused of a “grotesque abuse” of public funds in a freedom of information battle over the personal diaries of Lord and Lady Mountbatten in which costs are now expected to exceed £600,000.’
The Guardian, 7th November 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The UK government has been ordered to reveal which companies were given “VIP” access to multimillion-pound contracts for the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the early months of the Covid pandemic, in a ruling from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).’
The Guardian, 18th October 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A new global watchlist highlighting nations where there is a serious and rapid decline in respect for civic space has named the UK as a country of concern.’
Each Other, 7th October 2021
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘People from Caribbean countries such as Jamaica appear to be disproportionately targeted for deportation from the UK if they commit crimes, according to Home Office data obtained by the Guardian following a yearlong freedom of information battle.’
The Guardian, 25th July 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Subject Access Requests (SARs) are an essential tool for individuals and their lawyers, especially when it comes to immigration and nationality law. This post looks at what they are, why they are important, and how to make an Immigration Subject Access Request.’
Richmond Chambers, 9th June 2021
Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
‘The government has lost a legal battle to prevent the release of documents about an “Orwellian” unit that is accused of obstructing the release of material requested by the public under the Freedom of Information Act.’
The Guardian, 8th June 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service have recently published statistics about the number of hearings conducted remotely, ie by audio, video or on paper, compared with physical in-person hearings, over the course of the coronavirus lockdown. The statistics cover civil and criminal cases as well as family law cases, but it is possible to extract from them a picture of how the family justice system, in particular, has responded.’
Transparency Project, 4th June 2021
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
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