Information Commissioner's Office

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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Information Commissioner's Office >> Home Office (Central government) [2024] UKICO 263430 (11 March 2024)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKICO/2024/263430.html
Cite as: [2024] UKICO 263430

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Home Office

The complainant has requested a copy of “any action plan or similar document” on how to increase the use of facial recognition in policing. The Home Office refused to disclose the requested information citing section 35(1)(a) of FOIA (the exemption for the formulation or development of government policy). Following its internal review, the Home Office maintained that section 35(1)(a) applied to all the withheld information but additionally relied on sections 31(1)(a) (the exemption for the prevention or detection of crime) and 40(2) (the exemption for personal information) of FOIA for some parts of the information in scope of the request. During the latter stages of the Commissioner’s investigation, the Home Office said it no longer wished to rely on section 31(1)(a) of FOIA. In addition, the complainant confirmed that she was not concerned with the information being withheld under section 40(2) of FOIA so the Commissioner has disregarded this aspect. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to rely on section 35(1)(a) of FOIA for the reasons set out in this notice. No steps are required as a result of this decision.

FOI 35: Complaint not upheld

Decision notice: 263430