Freedom of Information (FOI)

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. Similarly, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 provide public access to environmental information held by public authorities.

Normally, any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and, subject to exemptions, supplied with that information.

To make a request for information from the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner please email [email protected]. The minimum standards for responding to Freedom of Information requests are defined in Freedom of Information Act legislation.  Details can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website.

Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 2018. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information Act will extend this right to allow public access to all types of information held, subject again to exemption. This  individual right of access to information came into effect on 1st January 2005.

Each Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out the classes of information it holds, the manner in which it intends to publish the information, and whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of a scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness. All such information required by the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2012 is available from this website.

The Act will be enforced by the Information Commissioner, a post that combines regulation of both the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts.