Surrey Police has been issued an enforcement notice by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after repeatedly failing to meet its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). The notice highlights a significant backlog in the force’s handling of FOI requests, leading to a sharp decline in compliance with legal requirements.
The ICO’s action comes after Surrey Police’s compliance rate fell to just 54%, a marked decrease from 69% in the same period last year. Under the FOIA, public authorities are required to respond to FOI requests within 20 working days. However, Surrey Police has struggled to meet this deadline, with the oldest request in their backlog now dating back over two years.
Phillip Angell, Head of Freedom of Information Casework, expressed concern over the force’s ongoing failure to address these issues. He said, “Timely responses to Freedom of Information requests are essential for maintaining transparency and trust in public bodies like police forces. The failure of Surrey Police to meet even the basic requirements of the Freedom of Information Act is entirely unacceptable.”
The enforcement notice follows repeated calls for Surrey Police to take action, none of which resulted in a concrete plan to tackle the growing backlog. As part of the notice, the force has been given 30 days to submit an action plan detailing how they intend to resolve the issue. The plan must include measures to address the backlog and ensure future FOI requests are responded to within the statutory timeframe.
Failure to comply with the enforcement notice could result in Surrey Police being held in contempt of court, potentially facing serious legal consequences. The ICO has underscored the importance of transparency in public institutions and the need for police forces to prioritize their obligations under FOIA.
The notice serves as a warning to other public authorities that failures in transparency and accountability will not be tolerated. Surrey Police will now be under close scrutiny as it works to resolve its FOI backlog and restore trust with the public.
