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The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded
information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions to that right and places a number of related
obligations on public authorities, particularly in relation to Records Management and Publication Schemes.
Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information, subject to certain exemptions, must be informed whether or not the public authority holds that information and, subject to various statutory exemptions, be supplied with that information. Individuals already have the right to apply for personal information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. To assist you, brief details about making an application for personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are available. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will extend that right to allow public access to all types of information. This individual right of access to information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will come into effect on 1 January 2005. Public authorities are required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme setting out the classes of information available and the manner in which they intend to publish the information, and whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of a Publication Scheme is to ensure information is available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness. Chief Constables are required to have an approved Publication Scheme in place and in operation from 1 June 2004. Information not available through the Publication Scheme may be available on written request after 1 January 2005. Further details about this type of request will be published on this site before the end of 2004. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will be enforced by the Scottish Information Commissioner. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 in England and Wales is a separate piece of legislation enforced by the Office of the Information Commissioner. He also has responsibility for the Data Protection Act 1998 on a nationwide basis. The Scottish Information Commissioner is responsible for the approval of Publication Schemes for Scotland under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. A Chief Constable in Scotland is deemed to be a public authority under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. CONTACT DETAILS Freedom of Information Officer Tayside Police Headquarters PO Box 59 West Bell Street Dundee DD1 9JU Telephone 01382 596169 It must be understood that email is not always reliable and Tayside Police cannot be held responsible for non-delivery of your email to our network. In addition, should your email be infected with a computer virus it will be deleted and, in line with best security practice, receipt will not be acknowledged. It is recommended that if you do not receive a response to your email that you use an alternative means of communication. The Office of The Scottish Information Commissioner Kinburn Castle Doubledykes Road St Andrews Fife KY16 9DS Telephone 01334 464610 Click here to visit the Scottish Information Commissioner's website www.itspublicknowledge.info The Office of the Information Commissioner Wycliffe House Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Telephone 01625 545700 Click here to visit the Information Commissioner's website www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk Enquirers should note the Scottish Information Commissioner's remit is limited to Scottish public authorities as defined by Section 3 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 Enquiries relating to bodies covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and enquiries under the Data Protection Act 1998, should be directed to the Information Commissioner in Cheshire. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Information which is obtained through the operation of the Publication Scheme may be subject to copyright. Further copying or reproduction of such material should be accurate and should identify, where known, the copyright holder of the information and acknowledge its copyright status. The information should not be used in a misleading form, or context. |
