A scandal that broke earlier this year over alleged misuse of a corporate credit card has come back to bite the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). In February, 2021 the information rights watchdog said it was investigating itself over how one of its corporate credit cards was used to spend £6,248.40 with luxury chocolate specialist HotelContinue reading “Chocolat scandal comes back to bite watchdog”
Category Archives: Information Commissioner
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 dirty business
The virus epidemic that has changed so many lives appears to be on the wane, the sun is shining, Spring is in the air and the nation’s long held traditions are gradually being restored after the cancellation, or postponement, of so many key events over the past year. Near the top of that list beingContinue reading “A dirty business”
Sold down the river
In October, 2020 I wrote a short piece that featured, yet again, the ‘cover-up’ culture that pervades every part of North Yorkshire Police, writes Neil Wilby. There are over thirty other such articles on this website. It is a rich seam for any curious journalist to mine. That, apparently, excludes those working for the tameContinue reading “Sold down the river”
‘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’”
Bailey can’t bridge the credibility gap
In July 2019, after serving for over 27 years with a backwater county police force, Nicholas Bailey took the short, but well worn path, from Cheshire Constabulary to its metropolitan neighbour, Greater Manchester Police, the fourth largest force in the country. He followed in the footsteps of past chief constable Peter Fahy; the present incumbentContinue reading “Bailey can’t bridge the credibility gap”
Did ‘bad apple’ taint the Thatcham barrel?
In March 2008, an investigation began into two Huddersfield brothers. Concerns about their extravagant lifestyle, following an anonymous tip-off, appeared to be the trigger for the police probe. At the subsequent trial in Bradford Crown Court in March, 2011, it emerged in evidence that Nadeem and Thazeem Khalid had exaggerated their earnings to obtain £968,000Continue reading “Did ‘bad apple’ taint the Thatcham barrel?”
Drowning in deceit
On this website rests a significant number of articles that robustly challenge the integrity, ethics and transparency of Julia Mulligan, the Conservative politician who has twice been elected as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Yorkshire and the City of York. She has been offered right to reply to all of them. In almostContinue reading “Drowning in deceit”
Peering Into The Gloom
In an article published on this website on 11th November, 2018, ‘The mystery of the missing peer review’ (read in full here), the importance of freedom of information (FOI) requests as an aid to journalism was highlighted. It investigated the background to an alleged ‘cover-up’ by the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police over well-publicisedContinue reading “Peering Into The Gloom”
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