Common Council of the City of London

The complainant requested information relating to the Hampstead Heath Constabulary and the Epping Forest Keepers. The Common Council of the City of London (“the council”) responded that the information requested was not covered by the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the FOIA”). In order to assist however, it provided some information that it considered was relevant. During the Commissioner’s investigation, the council identified further information which it said may be relevant however it maintained that the request was not covered by the FOIA in any case. The Commissioner’s decision is that the council correctly concluded that the information requested could not be disclosed under the FOIA because the information would not be held in its capacity as a local authority, police authority or port health authority. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.