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Freedom of information (FOI) is now an international phenomenon with over 100 countries from Albania to Zimbabwe enacting the right to know for their citizens. Since 2005, the UK’s Freedom of Information Act has opened up thousands of public bodies to unparalleled scrutiny and prompted further moves to transparency.
Wherever the right to know is introduced, its success depends on the way it is implemented. In organisations worldwide, FOI only works because of those who oversee its operation on a day-to-day basis, promoting openness, processing requests and advising colleagues and the public. FOI is dependent on the FOI Officers.
The Freedom of Information Officer’s Handbook is a comprehensive guide to FOI and its management. It is designed to be an indispensable tool for FOI Officers and their colleagues. It includes:
- a guide to the UK’s FOI Act, the right to know and the exemptions
- clear analysis of the most important case law and its implications for the handling of FOI requests
- pointers to the best resources to help FOI officers in their work
- explanations of how FOI interacts with other legislation, including detailed explorations of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and how the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation impacts on FOI
- a look at requirements to proactively publish information and the effect of copyright and re-use laws on FOI and open data
- comparisons of the UK’s Act with FOI legislation in other jurisdictions from Scotland to South Africa
- an exploration of the role of the FOI Officer: who they are, what they do, their career development and what makes them effective
- suggestions on how to embed FOI within an organisation using effective procedures, technology and training
- a stage-by-stage guide to processing requests for information.
The Freedom of Information Officers’ Handbook includes the latest developments in FOI including amendments made to the UK’s FOI Act by the Data Protection Act 2018 and the revised s.45 code of practice published by the Cabinet Office in July 2018.
'The book is an absolute must read for staff new to FOI (and new to complex UK legislation) as they navigate their way through this new world and language. However, it is also a wonderful resource for more experienced staff to dip into as and when required. Every FOI Officer should have a copy on their desk.'- Lynn Wyeth, Head of Information Governance at Leicester City Council, Freedom of Information Journal
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part 1: Understanding FOI
1. A brief history of freedom of information
2. Understanding the Act
3. The exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act
4. The FOI officer’s toolkit
Part 2: FOI in Context
5. The Environmental Information Regulations
6. The Freedom of Information Act, personal information and the GDPR
7. Records and archives
8. Publication schemes and proactive disclosure
9. Copyright and re-use of information
Part 3: FOI in Practice
10. The FOI officer
11. Embedding FOI
12. Managing FOI requests
13. Communicating with applicants
14. Internal reviews and appeals
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Methodology of survey of English local authorities
Appendix 2 - FOI response templates
Appendix 3 - Privacy notice for FOI requests
Notes
Index