What are the possible outcomes of my complaint?

Can the ICO get me the information I requested from the public authority?

Our role is to find out if your request was handled correctly.

When we decide a public authority has not handled your request correctly, we may order them to disclose some or all of the information by issuing a decision notice.

When we decide a public authority has handled your request correctly, for example withholding information that is not suitable for public use, we will support their decision.

Will the public authority be fined if the ICO upholds my complaint?

No. We cannot fine public authorities, even when we decide a public authority has not handled a request correctly.

Can the ICO award me compensation?

No. The ICO cannot award compensation, even when we decide a public authority has not handled a request correctly.