Home Office

The complainant made six requests on the subject of how the Home Office manages migrant vessels in the Channel, received over an eight day period in February 2023. The Home Office aggregated the requests, as they were similar in context and overall scope, and refused to provide any of the requested information on the basis that to do so would exceed the cost of compliance (section 12(1) of FOIA). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was entitled to aggregate the requests under section 12(4) of FOIA and has properly relied on section 12(1) of FOIA to refuse the requests. The Commissioner considers that the Home Office has complied with its obligations under section 16(1) of FOIA to provide adequate advice and assistance. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken as a result of this notice.
Keywords: Aggregation, small boats, crossings