Link for IOC full Decision notice pdf file: Serious Fraud Office (Central government) [2025] UKICO 320774 (13 May 2025)
The complainant requested information relating to its use of specific software. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) denied holding some information within the scope of the request and refused to provide the remainder, citing sections 31(1) (law enforcement) and 22 (information intended for future publication) of FOIA. The Commissioner's decision is that, on the balance of probabilities, the SFO does hold information in scope of part 1(a) of the request. The SFO therefore failed to comply with section 1 of FOIA (general right of access to information). The Commissioner also finds that the SFO was not entitled to apply section 22 to the information in scope of part 3 of the request. However, he finds that it was entitled to rely on section 31(1)(b) and (c) to withhold the information in scope of parts 1(b) and 4 of the request. The Commissioner requires the SFO to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: issue a fresh response to part 1(a) of the request confirming it holds the information and either disclose that information or issue a refusal notice which complies with section 17(1) of FOIA; disclose the information in scope of part 3 of the request.