Law reform charity brings tribunal challenge over police forces withholding Prevent data – Local Government Lawyer

‘The First Tier Tribunal has heard a Freedom of Information (FOI) appeal over the refusal from police forces to release anonymised data relating to the controversial anti-terrorism programme Prevent.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

News focus: Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 13th, 2023 in bills, damages, defamation, freedom of information, media, news, public interest by tracey

‘While the king’s speech pledged “legislation to protect public interest journalism”, a new Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs. This has sparked renewed calls to extend corrective measures beyond economic crime.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Personal data in FOI requests: cautionary tales – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 11th, 2023 in data protection, freedom of information, local government, news by tracey

‘In recent news there have been reports of personal data breaches that have resulted from the release of information in response to a freedom of information request. Charlotte Smith looks at the issues involved.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tribunal rejects MoJ’s ‘elaborate’ reason for refusing FOI request – Law Society’s Gazette

The first-tier tribunal has overturned a ruling that the Ministry of Justice was entitled to turn down freedom of information requests relating to cleaners’ pay.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Public bodies named and shamed over Freedom of Information request failings – The Independent

Posted August 11th, 2023 in delay, freedom of information, government departments, local government, news by tracey

‘Five public bodies have been named and shamed for failures to meet expected standards in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests.’

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The Independent, 10th August 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

NHS trust accused of cover-up is refusing to release report into deaths – The Guardian

‘An ambulance trust accused of hiding information from a coroner about patients that died is keeping a damning internal report about the deaths secret, the Guardian can reveal. A consultant paramedic implicated in the alleged cover-ups continues to be involved in decisions to keep the report from the public.’

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The Guardian, 24th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Information Commissioner issues enforcement notice against London borough over handling of FOI requests – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued an enforcement notice to Croydon Council for its poor handling of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK ICO publishes new employer guidance on subject access requests – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued new guidance for employers on how to handle subject access requests (SARs).’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st June 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Cassandra Somers-Joce: Government by WhatsApp: Where are we now? – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘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.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd April 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Police force wrong to dismiss ex-MP’s ‘vexatious’ FOI requests – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 24th, 2023 in appeals, freedom of information, harassment, news, police by tracey

‘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.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st April 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Met police illegally filmed children as young as 10 at climate protest – The Guardian

‘Police unlawfully spied on children as young as 10 taking part in a climate strike protest in London, documents have shown.’

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The Guardian, 5th December 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Avoiding the pitfalls of WhatsApp – Local Government Lawyer

‘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.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Two government departments reprimanded by UK data watchdog – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2022 in delay, freedom of information, government departments, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Two government departments have been reprimanded by a watchdog for not responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on time.’

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BBC News, 8th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Data watchdog reprimands government over pandemic WhatsApp use – BBC News

‘The Department of Health has been reprimanded over ministers’ and officials’ use of messaging apps and private email during the pandemic.’

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BBC News, 11th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Freedom of Information Act does not allow aggregation of separate public interests in maintaining different exemptions when weighing them against public interest in disclosure: Upper Tribunal – Local Government Lawyer

‘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.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Upper Tribunal ruling reveals eight cases where contempt applications made to First-Tier Tribunal over alleged failure to comply with earlier FTT freedom of information decisions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 26th, 2022 in contempt of court, freedom of information, joinder, news, tribunals by sally

‘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.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK data watchdog warns No 10 staff not to erase messages amid party probe – The Independent

‘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.’

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The Independent, 13th January 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Information Commissioner’s Office challenged over Whitehall JR submissions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘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.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th December 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UKHSA considers legal action against privately run Immensa lab – The Guardian

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 8th December 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Private firms working for UK government ‘should be subject to FOI rules’ – The Guardian

‘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.’

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The Guardian, 25th November 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com