Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service

The complainant asked the Metropolitan Police Service (the “public authority”) to provide information relating to a criminal inquiry. The public authority originally refused to disclose this relying on the exemption in section 30 (investigations and proceedings) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”), and subsequently applied section 12 (cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit). The complainant subsequently made a ‘narrowed’ request which is considered in a different Decision Notice (reference FS50322854). However, he wished the Commissioner to consider what he believed to be a lack of advice and assistance provided with his original request. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority did not provide adequate advice and assistance, thereby breaching section 16 of the Act. However, as it subsequently dealt with a narrowed request, on which the Commissioner has made a further decision, he has not ordered any steps to be taken. The public authority’s handling of the request also resulted in breaches of certain procedural requirements of the Act as identified in this Notice. The complaint is upheld. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2011/0107 withdrawn.