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Freedom of Information Act
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 19.14
by Psythor
Does anyone know anything about the freedom of information act? Essentially, I'm trying to find out what sort of information I can get at.
I've already used the data protection act to get my personal files from a both a
former employer and my
old school (both contained "assessment" documents of sorts that I'd not been allowed to see before).
I now want to use the FOI act to piss off my old school a bit more- what sort of information do you guys reckon I could get hold of? Would it be worth me asking for say, individual A-level scores for my entire year group? Perhaps logs of the naughty kids behaviour?
What do you reckon I could get? I don't want to request things that are impossible because I don't want to be laughed out of the building.
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 19.18
by Sput
You can only use the FOI act to get access to information that's in the public interest. What you already have was probably released under the Data Protection Act, which specifies you're allowed to view any information an organisation has about you (and correct it if it's wrong).
Re: Freedom of Information Act
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 19.45
by tvmercia
Psythor wrote:individual A-level scores for my entire year group? Perhaps logs of the naughty kids behaviour?
you are only entitled to see information held about yourself.
Re: Freedom of Information Act
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 19.57
by Psythor
tvmercia wrote:Psythor wrote:individual A-level scores for my entire year group? Perhaps logs of the naughty kids behaviour?
you are only entitled to see information held about yourself.
Even under FOI? I've vaugue memories of East Midlands Today getting knifecrime statistics from schools in the region.
Re: Freedom of Information Act
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 20.07
by Dr Lobster*
Psythor wrote:tvmercia wrote:Psythor wrote:individual A-level scores for my entire year group? Perhaps logs of the naughty kids behaviour?
you are only entitled to see information held about yourself.
Even under FOI? I've vaugue memories of East Midlands Today getting knifecrime statistics from schools in the region.
yes but getting government statstics is one thing, somebody elses personal school record is quite another.
i don't think you would like it if anybody was able to obtain personal information about you... that's why this sort of thing is restricted.
you could possibly ask if there are any staff members who are on the sex offenders register working at your school and then use the freedom of information act to obtain this information. you'd be well within your rights to request this information... especially if you've got a younger brother or sister at the school.
i can tell you that sort of thing ruffling a few feathers here in norfolk.
it's in legalese but it does outline a number of exceptions:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 20.49
by Dan
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 21.32
by Dr Lobster*
wow, that's an interesting website i never knew exisited!
who'd have guessed a tv license detector van costs £108,474.59 brand new!
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 21.45
by Sput
Odd, considering it's just a mini bus! Those blacked out windows must cost a bit...
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2006 23.23
by Pete
me and lowry were having a skek through before and there's a good document about all the domains the BBC own
http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/docs/freedom_o ... _Names.pdf
and this one
http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/docs/freedom_o ... ameras.pdf
Re: Freedom of Information Act
Posted: Sat 14 Jan, 2006 01.23
by cdd
tvmercia wrote:Psythor wrote:individual A-level scores for my entire year group? Perhaps logs of the naughty kids behaviour?
you are only entitled to see information held about yourself.
Correct:
8. Can I get information about other people and can they get information about me?
You can only access other people's personal information if you are acting on their behalf, and if they have given their permission to the organisation for them to disclose information to you in that way. It is up to the organisation holding the information to ensure that they have proper evidence of that permission before disclosing any information.
Organisations must not assume that they have permission to discuss a person's business or personal affairs with their spouse, partner or friend, unless they have formally been notified that the individual is content for them to do so.
In the same way, other people can only access your information if they are acting on your behalf and you have given your permission to the organisation for the information to be disclosed to them.
The Freedom of Information Act does not override the Data Protection Act - Freedom of Information cannot be used to get personal information about people other than the applicant.
Posted: Sat 14 Jan, 2006 11.45
by Sput
My school were so poor they had aan unlocked filing cabinet full of permanant records next to the sixth form common room.
Made interesting reading!