FOI requests made to Tayside Police cost thousands

FOI requests made to Tayside Police cost thousands

Tayside Police have revealed under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation that officers were asked if police dogs used treadmills or exercise machines to stop them becoming overweight, what a beggar's average daily income is and how many parking tickets are given to foreign nationals.

Other unusual questions submitted to the force included a request for information about an incident in which a flowerpot was "criminally damaged". Another was for details of how many Dundee taxi drivers accessed internet paedophilia sites between the hours of 4am and 7am.

The force was also asked whether it employed psychics to help with the work it carries out. A spokeswoman confirmed they did not.

More common requests include applications for information about speed cameras, sex offenders and general offences. Details of the unusual requests are contained in a report to be placed before the Tayside Joint Police Board, which meets in Perth next week. The report says FOI requests cost the police force tens of thousands of pounds a year.

Dog exercise is among police FOI requests (The Scotsman, 17 August 2007)