Information Commissioner's Office

Staffordshire Police

4 June 2015, Police and criminal justice

The complainant made three requests to Staffordshire Police for information relating to reports concerning Child Sexual Exploitation. Staffordshire Police refused this request on cost grounds under section 12(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Staffordshire Police applied section 12(1) of the FOIA correctly and so it was not obliged to comply with the complainant’s information request. However, the Commissioner also finds that Staffordshire Police failed to provide adequate advice and assistance to the complainant under section 16(1) of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires Staffordshire Police to take reasonable steps to advise and assist the complainant with a view to refining their requests to bring them within the cost limit. Staffordshire Police must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the FOIA and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.

FOI 12: Not upheld