FOI requests

[chocolateorange88]

I sent FOI requests to HO asking what checks they make and with whom, when considering an applicants application.

I also sent one to the Met Police asking what Info do HO ask them for, and I also asked the HMRC also.

The HO replied and so did the Met police saying they refuse to answer my request as they require the applicants name?!?!
why are they funny with it? I meant in general and not just with one person. They HO told me I needed to use my real name yet they answered every single request using my username cocochanel... that's a bit strange in my eyes!


opinions please

[secret.simon]

The Information Commissioner's Office, which is the appellate body for FOI requests, states the requirements for an FOI Request as follows;

What are the legal requirements for a request?

For your request to be dealt with according to the Freedom of Information Act, you must:

contact the relevant authority directly;
make the request in writing, for example in a letter or an email. You can make a verbal or written request for environmental information;
give your real name; and
give an address to which the authority can reply. This can be a postal or email address.

You do not have to:

mention the Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations, although it may help to do so;
know whether the information is covered by the Freedom of Information Act or the Environmental Information Regulations; or
say why you want the information.

So I believe that the Met Police is within its rights to refuse the FOI Request. The Home Office could also have chosen to ignore the request, but chose otherwise.