How not to handle a Freedom of Information request…
A GP surgery has been criticised for putting up signage blaming a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for delays in the functioning of the practice.
Caledonia Medical Practice in Cumbernauld put up a sign claiming that due to “extensive information” being requested there will be a delay of up to 14 days in their “administrative processes”. They said this was a “direct consequence” of the request and told patients not to take their frustration out on staff.
Smaller public bodies (schools, GP surgeries, parish councils) aren’t always aware of their obligations under the Act. Which can make the process frustrating for everyone.
If this request is actually likely to take up a huge amount of time, there’s two (TWO!) exemptions that can be applied. Either cost if finding the information is going to take ages or vexatious on the grounds of it being manifestly unreasonable if it’s going to involve a load of redacting. Whinging about having to deal with FOI requests isn’t helpful or constructive.
Nursery incidents
Nurseries made more than 4,200 reports of serious childcare incidents in 2023-24, the BBC has found, compared with 3,021 in 2019-20 – according to Ofsted figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
Ofsted – which regulates more than 27,000 non-domestic childcare settings in England – says these were reports it had assessed as urgent.
Incidents could range from injuries or illnesses, to serious accidents and deaths. They also include events affecting nursery premises, such as fires or floods.
CCTV
Almost 98 per cent of CCTV cameras in Oxford are functioning, which is a higher percentage than in almost all of the UK’s other 50 most populated towns and cities.
According to a recent study by Get Licensed, only Portsmouth, Gloucester, Sunderland, and Sutton performed better than Oxford, which has 85 of its 87 cameras – 97.7 per cent – in operation.
The company issued Freedom of Information requests to local council authorities to reveal the number of CCTV cameras operating in each location and the proportion of faulty or out-of-operation cameras.
Replacement bins
Ayrshire’s councils forked out to replace more than 15,000 wheelie bins last year.
Figures released under Freedom of Information laws highlighted that the county’s three councils replaced 15,687 wheelie bins between them as residents noted damage, wear and tear or missing bins.
