FOI Requests Explained
Making a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from public authorities should be straightforward, as long as you know how it works. Below, we’ve answered common questions from student journalists.
What counts as a ‘public authority’?
It’s not always easy to tell if an organisation is subject to FOI, and the rules can vary in Scotland. If in doubt, verify an organisation’s status by contacting the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) or checking the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website (HM Government, no date).
What types of information can you request?
It’s not always easy to tell if an organisation is subject to FOI, and the rules can vary in Scotland. If in doubt, verify an organisation’s status by contacting the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) or checking the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website (HM Government, no date).
Are there any exemptions to FOI?
The ICO lists a variety of exemptions on their website. These include access to personal information, which is blocked by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and environmental information, which is covered by Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004. Many FOI requesters receive semi-censored documents, partially blacked out.
This video from the Information Commissioner’s Office provides a useful introduction for journalists before making your first FOI request (ICO, no date).
How do I make an FOI request?
All FOI requests must:
- Be submitted in writing
- Include the requester’s full name and contact details—an email address is sufficient
- Have a clear, concise subject line, e.g. ‘Freedom of Information Request’
- Include the date
- Contain a clear description of information requested
- State how you would like to receive the information, for example via email or post
Requesters should expect to receive a response within twenty working days. (ICO, no date)
Still not sure where to start? Use an FOI Request Template to make the process easier.
Can an FOI request be refused?
Yes, it’s up to the authority to decide if they will grant an FOI request. They can refuse if they believe it would take too much time to fulfil, if it’s substantially similar to a previous request, or if a request is considered “vexatious”, or likely to cause disproportionate distress or disruption. (ICO, no date)
Such refusals can be highly subjective, and requesters have the right to appeal against them. This appeals process is then undertaken by the ICO. Some of the biggest news stories uncovered by FOI requests only came to light after lengthy appeals and significant delays, as our Case Studies show.
FOI for UK Student Journalists 