Information Commissioner's Office

Royal Mail

9 August 2007, Education (Other)

The complainant requested information from Royal Mail including statistics on the number of thefts of mail from private vehicles being used to deliver mail. Royal Mail disclosed to the complainant some of the information requested but withheld the information on the statistics of thefts under section 30 and found that the public interest lay in maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner investigated the application of section 30 and found that section 30 was not engaged. The Commissioner investigated the application of section 31, offered in the alternative, and found that this was not engaged. Royal Mail therefore breached the requirement of section 1(1) (b) in failing to disclose the requested information to the complainant. The Commissioner also found that Royal Mail did not issue a refusal notice within twenty working days and therefore beached section 17 of the Act. Royal Mail in failing to disclose information held, to which no exemption applied within twenty working days breached section 10 of the Act. The Commissioner requires Royal Mail to disclose the requested information within 35 calendar days from date of this notice.

FOI 10: Upheld