Post Office Limited

The complainant has requested all documents relating to the reasons for the closure and possible reopening timelines for a named post office. The Post Office Ltd (the Post Office) provided some information but withheld other information under sections 40(2) – personal information, 43(2) – commercial interests and section 31(1)(a) of FOIA – law enforcement. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Post Office has correctly refused the information it withheld under section 31(1)(a). The Post Office also correctly withheld most of the information it had cited under section 40(2), however some of it is not personal data and must be disclosed. The Commissioner has accepted, on the balance of probability, that the Post Office does not hold any further information than it has already disclosed with redaction for the relevant exemptions. However, the Commissioner does not accept that section 43(2) of FOIA is engaged and some information withheld under that exemption should be disclosed. The Post Office also breached section 1(1) and 10(1) by confirming that it held information late and providing further information at internal review stage. It also breached section 17(1)(b) by later relying on exemptions that it had not cited in its original response. The Commissioner requires the Post Office to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation: disclose the information identified below.