Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) gives people the right to request information from public authorities. It is intended to promote a culture of openness and accountability amongst public sector bodies, and therefore facilitate better public understanding of how public authorities carry out their duties, why they make the decisions they do, and how they spend public money.

We understand the importance of transparency in all of our dealings and have adopted policies in relation to Freedom of Information and also Records Management, which forms an important element in understanding the information we hold.

Essentially the Act moves the emphasis from a “need to know” to “a right to know”. We have already started this process by providing an electronic publication scheme, which lists the type of information we routinely publish. This underlines our commitment to openness and allows the public to browse documents.

Requests For Information

From 1st January 2005, anyone from anywhere can request information that is ‘recorded’ by the Authority. This is retrospective and includes all historical information.

The request for information must:

You can visit our contact page to make a request for information.

Response to Requests

From the date of receipt the Authority is set a 20 working day limit, during which time the Authority must inform the applicant in writing:

The caveat is that for exempt information there is not a duty to confirm or deny that the information is held and there is no need for disclosing of the information. Clearly in some cases it would be illegal to do so, e.g. Data Protection.

Exempt Information

Although the scheme refers to a wide range of information held by the Fire Authority irrespective of format (i.e. electronic, video, audio, paper copy), not all information may be accessed by the public. Access may be prohibited because, for example, the information relates to an individual and is therefore protected by the Data Protection Act 1998; or is subject to other categories of information which are treated as Exempt under FoIA. These exemptions tend to be more directed towards central government, focusing on national security, international relations and defence.

Absolute Exemptions relate to:

The Public Interest Test may be applied to the 17 other categories of qualified exemptions. It means that Exempt information may be released if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest in not disclosing the information.

Fire Authority Contact Details

This scheme is maintained by a designated Information Officer to whom any queries regarding the Scheme or the application of FoIA should be addressed.

Freedom of Information Officer
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service HQ
Summergroves Way
Hull
HU4 7BB

Email: foi@humbersidefire.gov.uk

Tel: 01482 565333
Fax: 01482 508635

Complaints

Any complaints regarding this scheme should in the first instance be addressed to:

Assistant Chief Officer (Ops Support)
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service HQ
Summergroves Way
Hull
HU4 7BB

Email: complaints@humbersidefire.gov.uk

Failing which, complaints should be addressed to:

Information Commisioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Email: informationrights%40dca.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: 01625 545700
Fax: 01625 52451

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