Lancashire Constabulary

The complainant has requested information about feedback and recommendations Lancashire Constabulary received from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).  Lancashire Constabulary initially acknowledged holding information and stated that it was exempt from disclosure under section 21 (Information accessible to applicant by other means) of the FOIA. At internal review, it revised its position, stating that it did not hold the information described in the request. Nevertheless, it provided a link to information on the IPCC website which it acknowledged holding, and which the Commissioner considers was covered by the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that Lancashire Constabulary was entitled to apply the exemption at section 21 with regard to the information on the IPCC website. The Commissioner also decided that, on the balance of probabilities, at the time of the request Lancashire Constabulary did not hold any other information described in the request. The Commissioner requires no steps to be taken.