Thurrock Council

The complainant requested a particular report commissioned by Thurrock Council (the ‘Council’) into one of its financial investigation services. The Council initially refused to provide the report in its entirety citing sections 41 of FOIA – the exemption for information provided in confidence, and 43 – the exemption for commercial interests. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation, the Council additionally cited sections 31(1)(a) of FOIA – the prevention or detection of crime and 40(2) – personal information. It also revised its position and disclosed the requested report, with redactions under all the above cited FOIA exemptions. The Commissioner’s decision is that section 40(2) is engaged. He also finds that sections 31, 41, and 43 of FOIA are not engaged for the reasons set out in this notice. The Commissioner requires the Council to disclose the remainder of the requested report in full minus the information withheld under section 40(2) of FOIA within 30 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. 

Keywords: Fraud