Home Office
- Date 4 December 2024
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) FOI 10(1): Upheld, FOI 31: Upheld
The complainant has requested information in respect of immigration control areas at Gatwick and Manchester Airports. The Home Office refused to disclose the requested information, citing section 31(1)(e) (Law enforcement – operation of immigration controls).
The Commissioner’s decision is that the Home Office was not entitled to apply section 31(1)(e) to refuse to disclose the requested information.
In failing to disclose all non-exempt information within the statutory timeframe, the Home Office has breached section 10 (timescale for compliance) of FOIA.
The Commissioner requires the Home Office to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
• Disclose the withheld information to the complainant.
The Home Office must take these steps within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.