In a statement published on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) website on 30th July, 2021, the Mayor of Greater Manchester announced that the long-awaited Oldham Strand of the Child Sexual Exploitation Review will be published in November 2021 or, at the latest, by the end of the year. That deadline was extended by Andy Burnham atContinue reading “Will long-delayed CSE report miss yet another deadline?”
Category Archives: FOI and DPA
Tribunal hears belated claim that Council refused FOIA requests ‘because of ethnic background’
On 11th October, 2021 an Information Rights Tribunal hearing, held remotely via the Court Video Platform (CVP), was the culmination of a bitter two year struggle between a disgraced Tameside-based political activist and the neighbouring Metropolitan Borough Council in Oldham that are the subject of his persistent and unpleasant on-line attacks. Raja Miah, aged 48,Continue reading “Tribunal hears belated claim that Council refused FOIA requests ‘because of ethnic background’”
Council reveal their detachment from controversial information rights tribunal
A recent information access request to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has produced another surprising revelation from a public authority that appears not to take the relevant statutory framework, and matters flowing from it, at all seriously enough. Indeed they were exposed within the past three months as deceiving a local politician in order to frustrateContinue reading “Council reveal their detachment from controversial information rights tribunal”
Bereaved family re-launch justice campaign for murdered boy
At around 5am on Saturday 3rd May, 1997, petrol was poured through the letterbox of a stone built terraced house in Haywood Avenue, Marsh, Huddersfield. From evidence found at the scene, it took a number of attempts to light the accelerant but, having done so, the flames took hold very quickly and created intense heatContinue reading “Bereaved family re-launch justice campaign for murdered boy”
Is Home Secretary prepared to break the law to avoid disclosure?
If only that headline was unique it would be some story, writes Neil Wilby. Regrettably, the United Kingdom presently has the worst (and most palpably lawless and morally bankrupt) Secretary of State for the Home Department in its history. No mean feat when one considers that previous hapless incumbents have included Jack Straw, David BlunkettContinue reading “Is Home Secretary prepared to break the law to avoid disclosure?”
Police watchdog claims that disclosing dates of inspections will inhibit its ability to function
On 12th September, 2021, an information access request was made to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Police, Fire and Rescue Services. It was headlined ‘Planned HMICFRS inspections at Greater Manchester Police’. The text of the request was plainly expressed: Please disclose, by way of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the following: (i) the dates andContinue reading “Police watchdog claims that disclosing dates of inspections will inhibit its ability to function”
Freedom of information request to Greater Manchester Police – Authorised firearms officers
On 18th July, 2021 an access request was made to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), by journalist Neil Wilby, in these terms: ‘Please disclose the following information by way of the Freedom of Information Act [FOIA or the Act]: “As at the past three force years ending 31st March, 2019, 2020 and 2021 how many licencedContinue reading “Freedom of information request to Greater Manchester Police – Authorised firearms officers”
Freedom of Information request to Greater Manchester Police – Operation Cayman
On 6th August, 2021, the following request was made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA or FOI or the Act). It followed publication, elsewhere on this website, of an article about a knife crime initiative launched by Greater Manchester Police‘s Q Division in Oldham and backed by one of the town’s MPs, Jim McMahonContinue reading “Freedom of Information request to Greater Manchester Police – Operation Cayman”
‘A grubby little police force’
This catchphrase, now widely shared on social media and indelibly associated with Durham Constabulary, was first coined in November 2016 as part of communication between journalist, Neil Wilby, and the force, concerning a concise, plainly expressed freedom of information request (read in full here). The disposal of that request quickly turned very ugly after DurhamContinue reading “‘A grubby little police force’”
‘That particularly dubious constabulary merits careful investigation’
No-one, over the past six years, has come close to writing more words challenging the conduct of North Yorkshire Police than the author of this piece. On this website alone there are 32 articles, on social media there are thousands of posts. I have taken them, and their disgraced Police and Crime Commissioner, both toContinue reading “‘That particularly dubious constabulary merits careful investigation’”
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