Information Commissioner's Office

Staffordshire Police

24 April 2017, Police and criminal justice

The complainant has requested a copy of the Costello Report and any other related reports and specified correspondence. Staffordshire Police disclosed a copy of the Costello Report, with redactions in respect of information which it said was exempt from disclosure under sections 30 (investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities), 31 (law enforcement) and 40 (personal information) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that Staffordshire Police was entitled to rely on sections 30, 31 and 40 to withhold most of the information. However, she found that it incorrectly cited section 31 to make one redaction. The Commissioner requires Staffordshire Police to disclose to the complainant the recommendation made in paragraph 13.1 of the Costello Report, previously withheld under section 31.

FOI 30: Not upheld FOI 31: Partly upheld FOI 40: Not upheld