The Freedom Of Information Officers Handbook

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 Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force in 2005, obliging public authorities to respond quickly to requests for information, subject to exemptions. This text offers an overview of the law, providing explanations of the practical consequences of the legislation.

Contains an overview discussion of the Freedom of Information Act's (FOIA) exemptions, its law enforcement record exclusions, and its most important procedural aspects. 2009 edition. Issued biennially. Other related products: Report of the Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy, Pursuant to Public Law 236, 103d Congress can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/052-071-01228-1 Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974, 2015 Edition can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/027-000-01429-1

This is a practical guide to the application of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 which came into force on 1st January 2005 after a period of consultation and the development of appropriate systems and procedures for public bodies. Fully up-to-date the book covers: requests for disclosure of information and how these operate across public bodies, including central government departments, local government, the police, the health service (including hospital trusts), education authorities, higher education institutions, regulators and quangos; clear and practical guidance on the actual process of information requests why and how information may be withheld under the Act's many absolute and qualified exemptions; the 'public interest test' and its application; model publication schemes; how businesses may operate in the context of the Act- the protection and accessing of commercially sensitive information. Written by a team of leading practitioners, the book focuses on the 'nuts and bolts' of accessing and disclosing information under the new FOI regime. Dealing in detail with the needs of public authorities and interested commercial parties, the book provides essential and timely advice to both legal practitioners and information professionals.

"The mission of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) is to serve as the federal government's leader for and provider of world-class law enforcement training.

Privacy and data protection in police work and law enforcement cooperation has always been a challenging issue. Current developments in EU internal security policy, such as increased information sharing (which includes the exchange of personal data between European law enforcement agencies and judicial actors in the area of freedom, security and justice (Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and OLAF)) and the access of EU agencies, in particular Europol and Eurojust, to data stored in European information systems such as the SIS (II), VIS, CIS or Eurodac raise interesting questions regarding the balance between the rights of individuals and security interests. This book deals with the complexity of the relations between these actors and offers for the first time a comprehensive overview of the structures for information exchange in the area of freedom, security and justice and their compliance with data protection rules in this field.