Sussex Police

The complainant has requested information about criminal investigations conducted by Sussex Police which involved civil claims being lodged against the force. Sussex Police disclosed some information, but it said that to provide information about the nature of the criminal investigations involved would exceed the appropriate cost limit at section 12 of the FOIA, because of the way the information was held. The Commissioner’s decision is that Sussex Police was entitled to rely on section 12 to refuse the request. However, he found that in failing to provide advice and assistance on how the complainant might refine his request, Sussex Police breached section 16 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires no steps as a result of this decision.