Scottish Information Commissioner issues first decision

Scottish Information Commissioner issues first decision

The first ever decision to be issued in Scotland under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 was published on the Scottish Information Commissioner's website today.

In his decision the Commissioner found that Lothian & Borders Safety Camera Partnership had not complied with Part I of the Act by withholding information about a safety camera calibration certificate from an applicant. The Partnership had stated that the information constituted police evidence and would be produced in court if required. The information was only released to the applicant after he had appealed to the Commissioner.

The Partnership was told that it should implement the necessary staff training and improvements to procedures no later than 3 months from the date of the notice in order to comply with the Act.

To date, the Commissioner's office has received approximately 200 complaints, a much higher number than had been anticipated, with nearly half being made by members of the public.

Read the full decision on the Commissioner's website:
www.itspublicknowledge.info/appealsdecisions/decisions/index.htm (Scottish Information Commissioner's website, 23 May 2005)

See also: Authority rapped after freedom of information act complaint (The Scotsman, 23 May 2005)

More: Speed camera team broke Freedom of Information law (Out-Law.com, Pinsent Masons, 1 June 2005)