Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested information about an informant and the Police's actions in relation to this informant. Initially the Police considered the request to be vexatious, but then withdrew this claim once the Commissioner had commenced an investigation. The complainant intimated that he wished to obtain information which would identify the informant, and the Commissioner is satisfied that the specific information requested is not held. The Police considered information that could identify the informant exempt from disclosure under sections 30 (Investigations) and 40 (Personal Information). Section 30 is qualified by a public interest test, and the Commissioner recognises the strong public interest in maintaining the correct conditions in which members of the public feel able to provide information to the Police. With regard to section 40, the Commissioner is satisfied that section 40 is engaged and that a disclosure here would be unfair, breaching the first data protection principle. The Commissioner therefore does not require any further action of the Police. The Information Tribunal has ruled on this decision and has dismissed this appeal.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 14 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 1 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 30 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 40 - Complaint Not upheld