MANUAL OF GUIDANCE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION Version 5 Freedom of Information Copyright: © ACPO & Hampshire Constabulary 2008 1 This manual is fully disclosable under FOI If you have a technical FOIA enquiry please check this manual before contacting the CRU DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT (DDA) STATEMENT This manual has been produced specifically for FOI practitioners. Additional copies are available, if required, in larger print from the ACPO Central Referral Unit. Freedom of Information Copyright: © ACPO & Hampshire Constabulary 2008 2 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACPO Association of Chief Police Officers ACPOS Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland BAU Business as Usual CHIS Confidential Human Intelligence Source CPIA Criminal Procedures and Investigation Act CPS Crown Prosecution Service CRU Central Referral Unit DDA Disability Discrimination Act DP Data Protection DPA Data Protection Act EIR Environmental Information Regulations FOI Freedom of Information FOIA Freedom of Information Act GCHQ Government Communications Headquarters GPMS Government Protective Marking Scheme HMIC Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies IC Information Commissioner ICO Information Commissioner’s Office IPCC Independent Police Complaints Commission IT Information Tribunal MOG Manual of Guidance MOJ Ministry of Justice NCND Neither Confirm Nor Deny NSAP National Security Appeals Panel PIT Public Interest Test SAR Subject Access Request SOCA Serious Organised Crime Agency SRP Safer Roads Partnership LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 Environmental Information Regulations Appendix 2 Freedom of Information Act Freedom of Information Copyright: © ACPO & Hampshire Constabulary 2008 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................3 LIST OF APPENDICES...........................................................................................................3 TABLE OF CONTENTS..........................................................................................................4 FOREWORD........................................................................................................................12 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000............................................................................13 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS..................................................................................................... 14 TIMESCALE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................... 15 MYTH BUSTER ...................................................................................................................16 USING THE ACPO NATIONAL.............................................................................................18 FOI MANUAL OF GUIDANCE ..............................................................................................18 MANUAL OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................................... 18 MANUAL STRUCTURE.................................................................................................................................................... 18 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................19 ACPO STATEMENT OF POLICY .................................................................................................................................... 20 PUBLICATION SCHEME ......................................................................................................21 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................................. 21 LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 21 DOCUMENTS TO BE VIEWED........................................................................................................................................ 22 ACPO STATEMENT OF POLICY .................................................................................................................................... 22 GUIDE TO PUBLISHED INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 23 INFORMATION TO BE MADE AVAILABLE............................................................................................................... 23 FORMAT OF THE PUBLICATION SCHEME ............................................................................................................. 24 MONITORING AND REVIEW...................................................................................................................................... 24 FEES AND CHARGES ................................................................................................................................................. 25 COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE ...................................................................................................................................... 25 DEFINING A REQUEST .......................................................................................................26 Freedom of Information Copyright: © ACPO & Hampshire Constabulary 2008 4 GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................................................................. 26 FOI AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS..................................................................................... 26 LEGISLATION - SECTION 8 ........................................................................................................................................... 26 BUSINESS AS USUAL...................................................................................................................................................... 27 POLICE SERVICE REFERRAL CRITERIA ..............................................................................29 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................................. 29 THE PROCESS ................................................................................................................................................................. 29 ACKNOWLEDGING A REQUEST & PROVIDING ASSISTANCE ..............................................32 LEGISLATION – SECTION 16......................................................................................................................................... 32 ACPO POLICY ................................................................................................................................................................. 32 TIME FOR COMPLIANCE.....................................................................................................33 LEGISLATION – SECTION 10......................................................................................................................................... 33 ACPO POLICY ................................................................................................................................................................. 34 PIT EXTENSION.......................................................................................................................................................... 34 BUSINESS AS USUAL ................................................................................................................................................. 35 TRANSFER OF REQUESTS..................................................................................................36 LEGISLATION – SECTION 10......................................................................................................................................... 36 ACPO POLICY ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 WHERE NO INFORMATION HELD............................................................................................................................ 36 WHERE INFORMATION PARTIALLY HELD............................................................................................................. 36 THE RECEIVING AUTHORITY’S OBLIGATIONS ..................................................................................................... 37 CONSULTATION WITH THIRD PARTIES................................................................................................................. 37 THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS......................................................................................38 ACPO POLICY ................................................................................................................................................................. 38 MODEL REQUEST PROCESS..................................................................................................................................... 38 THE PROCESS IN RESPECT OF SECTION 1(1)(A)................................................................................................. 38 THE PROCESS IN RESPECT OF SECTION 1(1)(B)................................................................................................