Novel use of Freedom of Information laws

Novel use of Freedom of Information laws

A woman in Hampshire has used the new freedom of information laws to try and find herself an unattached man in uniform.

Angela Wright sent an information request by e-mail to her local police headquarters in Winchester, asking for details of "eligible bachelors within the Hampshire constabulary between the ages of 35 and 49 and details of their email addresses, salary details and pension values." Her request for information was sent under the pseudonym "ilikemeninuniform", in accordance with the laws that allow people to preserve their anonymity when making freedom of information requests.

Police were able to confirm that there are 266 eligible bachelors within the Hampshire constabulary, of whom 201 are in uniform. But their names and addresses could not be revealed since the information is personal and therefore exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.

Singleton uses freedom of information laws to find a man in uniform (DeHavilland News, 19 March 2005)