Reporting and publicity – Freedom of information

1. The Freedom of Information Act 20001 ("FOIA") imposes a general duty on public authorities2 to disclose information on request, but qualifies this duty with a wide range of exemptions3. As with the Data Protection Act 1998, the FOIA covers information kept in both manual and electronic form4.

2. Where a person makes a 'request for information'5 to a public authority, the authority's general duty is to6:

  • inform the applicant, in writing, whether it holds the information requested (referred to as the 'duty to confirm or deny'); and
  • if it holds the information, communicate this to the applicant.

3. The request must generally be complied with promptly and in any event within 20 working days following receipt7. Where a public authority requires further information from the applicant to locate and identify the request, and it has informed the applicant of this, the authority is not obliged to comply with the request until the applicant has supplied the further information8. However, the authority has a duty to advise and assist the applicant regarding their request9.

4. The duty to provide information under the FOIA is also subject to a number of exemptions for a range of governmental (including law enforcement and regulatory) activities10.

5. Some exemptions are 'absolute' while others involve the application of a 'public interest' test to determine whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information11.

6. If you receive a request for information, you should, in the first instance, consult your divisional FOI officer.

Footnotes

  1. c.36. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 - which gives effect to Government proposals as set out in a White Paper 'Your Right to Know' (Cm 3818 (December 1997)). Back
  2. HSE is a 'public authority' under the Act, s. 3(1) and schedule 1 and s.84. Back
  3. Butterworths New Law Guides "The Freedom of Information Act 2000", Ch. 2, Butterworths, 2001. For detailed guidance on FOIA see this publication and also the Ministry of Justice[166] site. Back
  4. FOIA 2000 Section 84. Back
  5. FOIA 2000 Section 8, the request must be in writing (including electronically, such as e-mail), state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence and describe the information requested. Back
  6. FOIA 2000 Section 1(1). Back
  7. FOIA 2000 Section 10(1). It is also important to note that the duty is to provide the requested information, not a specific document or documents. However, the authority should, where practicable, give effect to the applicant's stated preferred means of communication – FOIA 2000 section 11. Back
  8. FOIA 2000 Section 1(3). Back
  9. FOIA 2000 Section 16. Back
  10. Part II of Act, sections 21-44. The principal exemptions relating to HSE include: where the information is held for the purposes of a criminal investigation and/or criminal proceedings (section 30(1)); or, where section 30(1) does not apply, if its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime, the prosecution of offenders, or the administration of justice (section 31), or prejudice HSE's function to secure the health, safety and welfare of persons at work or persons affected by the actions of persons at work (section 31(1)(g) and (2) (i) and (j)); where the information is personal information (section 40, in which case the request must be considered under the DPA 1998); and where the information has been provided in confidence (section 41). Back
  11. See FOIA 2000, section 2. Back

Link URLs in this page

  1. Enforcementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/index.htm
  2. Enforcement guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/index.htm
  3. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/intro.htm
  4. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/index.htm
  5. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-intro.htm
  6. Order of collecting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-order.htm
  7. Witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-witness.htm
  8. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-questioning.htm
  9. Admissibility of confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-admissibility.htm
  10. Inferences from silencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-inferences.htm
  11. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-intro.htm
  12. Evidence that may assist your investigationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-evidence.htm
  13. Obtaining evidence using section 20 powershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-obtaining.htm
  14. Preparing evidence for courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-preparing.htm
  15. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-intro.htm
  16. The experthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-role.htm
  17. Site visitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-sitevisits.htm
  18. The reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-report.htm
  19. At courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-court.htm
  20. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/status-intro.htm
  21. Contract of employmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/status-contract.htm
  22. Specific categories of workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/status-specific.htm
  23. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-intro.htm
  24. Partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-partner.htm
  25. Companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-companies.htm
  26. Joint ventureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-ventures.htm
  27. Limited liability partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-liability.htm
  28. Other defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-defendants.htm
  29. Prosecution of foreign defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-foreign.htm
  30. Insolvencyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-insolvency.htm
  31. Prosecution of individualshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-individual.htm
  32. Proceeding against employees HSWA s7https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-employees.htm
  33. Proceeding against Crown employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-crown.htm
  34. Proceedings against director, manager, secretary or other similar officerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-directors.htm
  35. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-intro.htm
  36. The prosecution reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-report.htm
  37. Approval of a proposed prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-approval.htm
  38. Evidential stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-evidential.htm
  39. Public interest stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-public.htm
  40. Selection of charges and mode of trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-charges.htm
  41. Cautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-cautions.htm
  42. Enforcement against Crown bodieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-enforcement.htm
  43. Recording reasonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-recording.htm
  44. Pre-trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/index.htm
  45. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-intro.htm
  46. Drafting informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-drafting.htm
  47. Legal referenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-legal.htm
  48. Sample informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-informations.htm
  49. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-intro.htm
  50. Criminal procedure ruleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-criminal.htm
  51. Jurisdictionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-jurisdiction.htm
  52. Informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-information.htm
  53. Summonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-summons.htm
  54. Initial details of the prosecution casehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-advance.htm
  55. Information to assist the sentencing courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-sentencing.htm
  56. Preparation for guilty plea in the magistrates courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-preparation.htm
  57. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-intro.htm
  58. Written statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-written.htm
  59. Supplying statements to witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-witness.htm
  60. Supplying statements to the defencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defence.htm
  61. Attendance of witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-attendance.htm
  62. Formal admissionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-formal.htm
  63. Production of documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-production.htm
  64. Defendant's antecedentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defendant.htm
  65. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-intro.htm
  66. Key requirements of the CPIAhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-key.htm
  67. Investigations and relevant materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-investigations.htm
  68. Disclosure stageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-disclosure.htm
  69. Preparing the scheduleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-preparing.htm
  70. Approach to common categories of materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-approach.htm
  71. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/index.htm
  72. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-intro.htm
  73. General principleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-principles.htm
  74. Publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-publicising.htm
  75. Information which may be disclosedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-information.htm
  76. Sensitive caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-sensitive.htm
  77. Reporting committal proceedingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-committal.htm
  78. Contempt of courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-contempt.htm
  79. Reporting and Publicity - Abuse of process at common lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-abuse.htm
  80. European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) considerationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-echr.htm
  81. Reporting the trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-trial.htm
  82. Defamation: libel and slanderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-defamation.htm
  83. Breach of confidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-breach.htm
  84. Data protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-data.htm
  85. Reporting and publicity - Freedom of informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-foi.htm
  86. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-intro.htm
  87. Court procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-courtprocedure.htm
  88. Plea before venue and allocationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-mode.htm
  89. Discontinuing a prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-discontinue.htm
  90. The hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-hearing.htm
  91. Objections and adjournmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-objections.htm
  92. Contested cases - not guilty pleashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-contested.htm
  93. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-intro.htm
  94. Trial processhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-trial.htm
  95. Proving the offencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-prove.htm
  96. Key rules of evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-key.htm
  97. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-intro.htm
  98. Witnesses giving evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-witnesses.htm
  99. Exclusion of evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-exclusion.htm
  100. Use of inadmissible confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-confessions.htm
  101. Physical evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  102. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  103. Exhibiting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-exhibiting.htm
  104. Public documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-public.htm
  105. Proof of convictionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-proof.htm
  106. Sound and videotape recordingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-sound.htm
  107. Photographs, sketches and modelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-photos.htm
  108. Maps and planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-maps.htm
  109. Real evidence (material objects)https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-real.htm
  110. Computer evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-computer.htm
  111. Expert reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-expert.htm
  112. Depositionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-depositions.htm
  113. Written witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-written.htm
  114. Records required by statutory provisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-statutory.htm
  115. Continuityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-continuity.htm
  116. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/hearsay-intro.htm
  117. Rule against hearsayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/hearsay-rule.htm
  118. Exceptions to the hearsay rulehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/hearsay-exceptions.htm
  119. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-intro.htm
  120. What is abuse of process?https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseprocess.htm
  121. Delayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-delay.htm
  122. Double jeopardyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-double.htm
  123. Breach of promisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-breach.htm
  124. Loss of evidence / failure to disclose unused materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-loss.htm
  125. Investigative improprietyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-investigative.htm
  126. Pre-trial publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-pretrial.htm
  127. In magistrates' courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusemagistrates.htm
  128. Abuse of process in the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusecrown.htm
  129. What to do if abuse is claimedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseclaimed.htm
  130. Recording decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-decisions.htm
  131. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-intro.htm
  132. Preparing for sentencing hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-preparing.htm
  133. The sentencing hearing and imposing the sentence https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-hearing.htm
  134. Penaltieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-penalties.htm
  135. Costshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-costs.htm
  136. Model exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-examples.htm
  137. Crown courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-intro.htm
  138. Allocation Procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-committal.htm
  139. At the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-court.htm
  140. Committal for sentencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-sentence.htm
  141. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-intro.htm
  142. Prosecution rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-prosecution.htm
  143. Defence rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-defence.htm
  144. Rights of appeal for both partieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-both.htm
  145. Appeals to European courtshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-european.htm
  146. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/index.htm
  147. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-intro.htm
  148. Conditions for a valid noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-conditions.htm
  149. Types of noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-types.htm
  150. Drafting noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-drafting.htm
  151. Service of noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-service.htm
  152. Failure to complyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-failure.htm
  153. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-intro.htm
  154. Employment tribunals - Jurisdiction of the tribunalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-jurisdiction.htm
  155. Notice of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-appeal.htm
  156. Preparation for the hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-preparation.htm
  157. Employment tribunal hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-employment.htm
  158. Tribunal decisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-tribunal.htm
  159. Challenging tribunal decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-challenges.htm
  160. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/index.htm
  161. Introduction to the work related deaths sectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/intro.htm
  162. Investigation of work related deathshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/investigation.htm
  163. Coroner Inquestshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/chronology.htm
  164. The coronerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/coroner.htm
  165. Enforcement guide Site maphttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/sitemap.htm
  166. Ministry of Justicehttp://www.justice.gov.uk/
  167. Register of convictions and noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/convictions.htm
  168. Enforcement policy statementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm
  169. Enforcement management modelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/emm.pdf
  170. List of Specialist Regulatory Advocateshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/regulatory-advocates.pdf

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

CPIA
Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act

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Updated 2021-08-27