Delays Addressing FOIA Requests

you may wish to see the response at:

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ju...

specifically:

"... I would like to apologise for the delay in dealing with your request. This is the result of the large number of requests for information received by the IPCC in recent months which has resulted in a significant backlog of work. In addition, many of the requests we have received have taken some time to complete due to the amount and complexity of information requested in individual cases."

which I suspect everyone who approaches the IPCC receives.

i will be interested to learn the outcome of your approach.

regards

P Swift

Thanks

DM

Mr Merccer
We have similar requests, hence I am monitoring yours. See:
FOIA Response Delays & Excuses
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/fo...
and
IPCC Staffing Restrictions
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ip...
i note you have also received the same dismissive response I got. I spoke to the ICO who asked that a complaint be made to them. I have therefore written to the ICO as follows:
“casework[@]ico.gsi.gov.uk
Dear Sirs,
I wish to complain about the IPCC. The excuse below has been used by the IPCC for months. An example of a recent application can be seen at:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/fo...
Is the explanation below a valid, lawful, response?
Yours faithfully,
From IPCC:
I would like to inform you that there will be a delay in responding to your request.
The reason for this delay is because the IPCC has over recent months seen an increase
in the number of information requests it receives and this has in effect caused a
delay in responding to requests.

I would like to assure you that your request is being processed and once a decision
has been finalised you will be contacted. I would like to apologies for the delay and
hope that this does not cause you any inconvenience.”

Good luck
P Swift

Ha! You got a crystal ball or work for the IPCC? Will do as you suggest.
cheers
DM

Dear Dave Mercer,

I'm getting the same brush off excuse from the IPCC. Seems they think their failure to plan and implement a sufficiently professional and efficient internal process excuses them from acting to the requirements of the FOI Act.

It appears all requests to the IPCC are getting the same cut and paste response.

THey are frankly and insult.

The Chair of the IPCC is nick.hardwick[@]ipcc.gsi.gov.uk who is accountable to the Home Secretary (secretary of state for the home department), Alan Johnson who can be found at www.alanjohnson.org with an email address of:

johnsona[@]parliament.uk

as the IPCC appears unfit for purpose, certainly with regard to acting appropriately as a Public Authority under FOIA, I shall drop the Home Secretary a line. Possibly if more did someone would take note?

i find it ironic that a 'watchdog', the body that overseas the behaviour of those charged with upholding the law (the police) does not act in accordance with our legislation.

so much for 'setting the standards'.

regards

DM

LOOKS LIKE A FEW MORE PROBLEMS IN THE IPCC....ONE OF THE TEAM HAS LEFT..SEE THE AUTO REPLY EMAIL BELOW.. WAS SHE SACKED?

I AM NO LONGER EMPLOYED BY THE IPCC.

For urgent matters please contact the IPCC Reception on 020 7166 3000 or send an e-mail to foi@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.

Thank you and best regards,
Vangie

The original of this email was scanned for viruses by the Government Secure Intranet virus scanning service supplied by Cable&Wireless in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2009/09/0052.) On leaving the GSi this email was certified virus free.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes.

So another one bites the dust .... from an organisation that is inundated with requests under FOIA but insufficient staff to address the applications for .... months. this is not a new issue, so what are the IPCC doing about it? 'Nothing' would appear to be the answer, see:

www.ipccrecruitment.com

"we currently have no vacancies"

DM