Lancashire Constabulary

The complainant requested procedures, protocols and policies for the sharing of information between Lancashire Constabulary and other public authorities. The public authority refused the request, citing the exemption provided by section 22(1) (information intended for future publication). The basis for this was that the information requested by the complainant was being reviewed as part of the steps being taken by the public authority to comply with the Management of Police Information code of practice and would be made available via its publication scheme in due course. The Commissioner finds that this exemption was not applied correctly as the public authority did not have an intention to publish the information within a reasonable period from the date of the request. Additionally, in refusing to disclose the information requested on the basis of this exemption, the public authority failed to comply with the requirements of sections 1(1)(b) and 10(1). The Commissioner also finds that the public authority failed to comply with the requirement of section 17(3)(b) in that it did not explain to the complainant why it believed that the public interest in the maintenance of the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosure. The public authority is required to disclose the information in question.