Ministry of Defence

The complainant has requested copies of sensitive documents that were left at a bus stop. The above public authority relied variously on sections 24 (national security), 26 (defence), 27 (international relations), 40 (third party personal data), 42 (legal professional privilege) and 43 (commercial interests) of FOIA to withhold the information. The Commissioner’s decision is that all the requested information engages section 26 and the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. The Commissioner does not require further steps.