London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The complainant has requested the council to disclose copies of all correspondence between Lutfur Rahman, various staff within the council, any PR firms specifically dealing with Lutfur Rahman and the council’s press office over a two months period. The council responded providing a link to some relevant information on the subject. It then later issued a further response confirming that it wished to rely on sections 31, 36 and 40 of the FOIA. During the Commissioner’s investigation the council released the requested information, with a small amount of personal data redacted under section 40 of the FOIA. The complainant had no complaint about the application of section 40 of the FOIA, but felt that further recorded information should be held. He also wished the Commissioner to consider how the request had been handled and to record any procedural breaches of the FOIA. The Commissioner has decided that on the balance of probabilities the council does not hold any further recorded information. He has however reviewed how the request was handled and found that the council breached sections 10(1), 17(1), 17(2) and 17(3) of the FOIA in this case.