National Policing Improvement Agency

The complainant requested information relating to a National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) project called ‘Project Lantern’. NPIA refused the request citing section 12(1) of FOIA, but also redacted and disclosed some information outside of FOIA. The Information Commissioner’s decision is that NPIA incorrectly relied on section 12(1) and failed to issue a refusal notice in accordance with section 17(1) of FOIA. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose the requested information or issue a valid refusal notice citing a valid exemption.