Copy of FOIA request and response
Neil Wilby made this Freedom of Information request to Lancashire Constabulary
Dear Lancashire Constabulary,
Please disclose, by way of the Freedom of Information Act, a copy of the request and reply referred to at para 4 of the below weblink.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/o...
Yours faithfully,
Neil Wilby
If you are emailing a valid Freedom of Information request please treat
this as a formal acknowledgement.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as ‘the Act’. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined in
the Act (from when Lancashire Constabulary receive a valid request).
Please note that disclosure is subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Lancashire Constabulary is committed to ensuring that all services it
provides are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If
you find the web-site or a document difficult to access please notify us
so that we can assist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Regards,
FOI Team
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 413329/413203/412144
Email: [1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
Good afternoon, Neil,
Please could you email over the information you requires without the need for us to click any weblinks.
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Email: [Lancashire Police request email]
Personal Data Matters - Let's Get it Right!
Dear FOI,
This is a validly made request and there is nothing in the Freedom of Information Act to prohibit the use of web links.
In my lengthy experience, both as a journalist and information rights practitioner, web links are frequently used in both the making of FOIA requests and by public authorities finalising them. That includes other police forces and policing bodies.
I see no good reason, whatsoever, why Lancashire Constabulary should seek to be different.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Wilby
If you are emailing a valid Freedom of Information request please treat
this as a formal acknowledgement.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as ‘the Act’. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined in
the Act (from when Lancashire Constabulary receive a valid request).
Please note that disclosure is subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Lancashire Constabulary is committed to ensuring that all services it
provides are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If
you find the web-site or a document difficult to access please notify us
so that we can assist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Regards,
FOI Team
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 413329/413203/412144
Email: [1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
Good afternoon Neil,
We are advised to act with caution with anything that might not look legitimate. The original link you asked us to click on was very lengthy and it was difficult to see where it was directing us too, this is why we have asked for you to send the information without clicking any links. We are not obliged to click any links to find out what an applicant is requesting. Keeping information safe and protecting data is important to us hence why we have responded this way.
However on this occasion we have verified the link and will process your request.
Many thanks,
Information Access Team
Dear FOI,
For the avoidance of doubt, the request was correctly formulated under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
Most, if not all, independent observers would conclude that there is nothing 'suspicious' in a link to a past request made via the What Do They Know FOIA platform.
Those same observers might well also aver that it would have taken you longer to write the above email than actually finalise the request.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Wilby
If you are emailing a valid Freedom of Information request please treat
this as a formal acknowledgement.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as ‘the Act’. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined in
the Act (from when Lancashire Constabulary receive a valid request).
Please note that disclosure is subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Lancashire Constabulary is committed to ensuring that all services it
provides are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If
you find the web-site or a document difficult to access please notify us
so that we can assist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Regards,
FOI Team
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 413329/413203/412144
Email: [1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
Dear Neil Wilby
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO : FOI2025/00196
Please find attached Lancashire Constabulary's response to your recent
request for information made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Please direct any queries to the email address below.
Kind Regards
Information Access Team
HQ - Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 412144 / 413203 / 413050
Email: [1][Lancashire Police request email]
References
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1. mailto:[lancashire%20police%20request%20email]
Dear Lancashire Constabulary,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Lancashire Constabulary's handling of my FOI request 'Copy of FOIA request and response'.
Grounds for review:
1. The copy of the FOIA request you have provided is not the one in issue. The finalisation was a neither confirm nor deny exemption.
2. The FOIA request sought in the instant request needs to meet this criteria: "In 2019, by way of a FOI request, Lancashire constabulary identified two men, George Vella and Darren Hogan as operatives within Operation Malaya". That excerpt is taken from the weblink with which you were provided.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
Yours faithfully,
Neil Wilby
If you are emailing a valid Freedom of Information request please treat
this as a formal acknowledgement.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as ‘the Act’. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined in
the Act (from when Lancashire Constabulary receive a valid request).
Please note that disclosure is subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Lancashire Constabulary is committed to ensuring that all services it
provides are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If
you find the web-site or a document difficult to access please notify us
so that we can assist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Regards,
FOI Team
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 413329/413203/412144
Email: [1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
Dear Neil Wilby,
I refer to your recent complaint, which was received on 11th February.
A response will be sent to you in due course.
Kind Regards
Data Protection Department
Lancashire Constabulary
Saunders Lane, Hutton
Preston
PR4 5SB
Email: [1][email address]
Website: [2]www.lancashire.police.uk
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
2. https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Dear Lancashire Constabulary,
For the avoidance of doubt, it was not a 'complaint' that was made on 11th February, 2025 it was, explicitly, an 'internal review request' by way of Section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.
Integral to Section 45 is the Cabinet Office's Code of Practice, by which all responsible public authorities abide (see below link).
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...
Section 5.1 refers to the distinction between an 'internal review' and 'general complaint'.
Section 5.4 sets out that the time for response to an internal review request is 20 working days, not 'in due course' as you state.
I trust you will find these points helpful.
Yours faithfully,
Neil Wilby
If you are emailing a valid Freedom of Information request please treat
this as a formal acknowledgement.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as ‘the Act’. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined in
the Act (from when Lancashire Constabulary receive a valid request).
Please note that disclosure is subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Lancashire Constabulary is committed to ensuring that all services it
provides are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If
you find the web-site or a document difficult to access please notify us
so that we can assist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Regards,
FOI Team
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 413329/413203/412144
Email: [1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - INTERNAL REVIEW REFERENCE NO:
IR2025/00573
Please find attached Lancashire Constabulary's response to your recent
request for an internal review following your application made under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Email: [1][Lancashire Police request email]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[lancashire%20police%20request%20email]
Dear Lancashire Constabulary,
Thank you for the finalisation of the internal review.
It does, however, raise more questions than it answers.
Before escalating those matters to the Information Commissioner's Office, a sensible and proportionate way forward would be to seek further information by way of a fresh FOIA request in these terms:
Please disclose (i) all internal and external communications regarding request FOI2025/00196 (ii) the composition of the Internal Review Panel by officer rank or job title (iii) if they existed, and are still retained in, for example, Excel spreadsheet form (as per West Yorkshire Police), FOIA Disclosure Logs for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20 (with, obviously, the applicants' names redacted).
Yours faithfully,
Neil Wilby
If you are emailing a valid Freedom of Information request please treat
this as a formal acknowledgement.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as ‘the Act’. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined in
the Act (from when Lancashire Constabulary receive a valid request).
Please note that disclosure is subject to the information not being
exempt or containing a reference to a third party.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.
Lancashire Constabulary is committed to ensuring that all services it
provides are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If
you find the web-site or a document difficult to access please notify us
so that we can assist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.
Regards,
FOI Team
Data Protection Office
Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
Tel: 01772 413329/413203/412144
Email: [1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email%20address]
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