Chief Constable Northumbria Police

The complainant has asked Northumbria Police questions about the information it might hold in a hypothetical situation. Northumbria Police did not answer the questions. The Commissioner’s decision is that the questions did not sufficiently describe any recorded information which was being sought and so they were not valid requests for information as defined under section 8(1)(c) of FOIA. It follows that Northumbria Police was not under the duty at section 1(1) of FOIA to confirm or deny whether it held information falling within scope, or to issue a formal refusal notice under section 17. However, Northumbria Police did not meet the obligation under section 16 of FOIA to offer reasonable advice and assistance to the complainant, by explaining to him that the request was invalid. As an explanation is contained in this decision notice, the Commissioner does not require further steps as a result of this decision.