Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested the total amount of money Croydon Police has spent in each of the last three years on paying informants. The public authority refused the request, citing subsections within section 41 (information provided in confidence), section 30 (criminal investigations), section 31 (law enforcement) and section 38 (health and safety). Following an internal review, the public authority overturned the use of section 41 and section 31 and instead specifically cited section 30(2)(b) (obtaining of information from confidential sources) and section 38(1)(a) and (b) (endangering the physical or mental health of any individual or the safety of any individual). The Commissioner finds that the exemption provided by section 30(2)(a)(i) and (b) is engaged but that the public authority concluded incorrectly that the public interest favoured the maintenance of this exemption. The Commissioner also finds that the exemption provided by section 38(1)(a) and (b) is not engaged. The public authority is required to disclose the information showing the total amount of money spent by Croydon Police on informants in each of the last three years prior to the request. Information Tribunal appeal number EA/2010/0006 allowed.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 30 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 38 - Complaint Upheld