Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant requested a briefing note prepared by West Yorkshire Police for the public authority concerning issues relating to police pensions and injury awards. The public authority disclosed the majority of this briefing note, but redacted some content, citing the exemptions provided by the following sections of the Act: 36(2)(b)(i) (inhibition to the free and frank provision of advice), 36(2)(b)(ii) (inhibition to free and frank exchange of views) and 36(2)(c) (other prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs). In relation to some of the information redacted, the Commissioner concludes that section 36(2)(b)(i) is engaged and that the public interest favours the maintenance of this exemption. In relation to the remainder of the information redacted, the Commissioner finds that none of the exemptions cited by the public authority are engaged and that it breached sections 1(1)(b) and 10(1) of the Act in refusing to disclose this information. The public authority is now required to disclose the information that the Commissioner has concluded is not exempt.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 10 - Complaint Upheld, FOI 36 - Complaint Partly Upheld