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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 17h

📢FOI in the News!

A record number of people in the UK died while homeless in 2024.

A total of 1,611 homeless people died in the UK during the year, a 9% increase over 2023. The majority of deaths resulted from suicide or street drugs.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK deaths of 1,611 homeless people in 2024 is record high

Most are linked to suicide or drugs, with spice and nitazenes increasingly deadly.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 1d

For the full Tribunal decision, please see:

James Coombs v Information Commissioner & Anor (2024) UKFTT 804 (GRC))

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 1d

To mark October as Black History Month, we wanted to share a handful of FOI disclosures which illustrate the experiences of Britain's Black communities.

The first – James Coombs vs the Home Office and ICO on the origins of the Windrush Scandal.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...

Home Office forced to release critical report on origins of Windrush scandal

Government had objected to report’s publication as it may ‘damage trust of affected communities’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Campaign for Freedom of Information

Scottish Information Commissioner @foi.scot · 7d

📢 Have your say! The Scottish Parliament is scrutinising the FOI Reform Bill, and they need your views – should authorities pause deadlines for clarification? Should the First Minister have a veto?
Submit your views by 22 October 2025 👇 tinyurl.com/FOIReform

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 7d

If you’re a journalist, campaigner or someone who simply wants to learn more about FOI, why not consider our upcoming zoom course for requesters?

When: Thursday 16th October from 10am to 4pm

Sign up details via this link: www.cfoi.org.uk/2025/08/usin...

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 7d

🚨Reminder: FOI Requester Training 🚨

Royal lobbying of Downing Street, MPs' expenses, the true figures and profiles of those arriving on small boats.

Just some of the powerful stories FOI has illuminated.

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Reposted by Campaign for Freedom of Information

eCase @ecase.co.uk · 10d

Nominations for the #eCaseFOIAwards are now open!
John Edwards @infocommission.bsky.social shares why it's so important to nominate.
Nominate now at ecasefoiawards.co.uk
#FOIA #IDUAI #AccessToInfoDay #FOIA #eCaseFOIAwards

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 11d

The EIR provide a stronger right to information than the Freedom of Information Act. There is no ministerial veto over decisions, time limits for disclosure are tighter and a wider range of disclosures can be ordered on public interest grounds.

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 11d

📢FOI in the News!

The government is considering leaving the Aarhus Convention, which allows groups to judicially review environmentally damaging proposals without massive costs if they lose.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

#Aarhus #EIR #informationrights #transparency

Starmer asks Conservative peer to write planning bill to block judicial reviews

Exclusive: One option could be to leave treaty that allows legal claims against projects such as Heathrow expansion

www.theguardian.com

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 13d

📢FOI in the News!

'An almost ubiquitous culture of aggressive door-knocking by male soldiers demanding sex with female colleagues'.

The British Army is accused of suppressing a report from campaigners about the full extent of assaults within barracks.

www.thetimes.com/article/2318...

British Army accused of suppressing report on barracks sex pests

An audit commissioned by defence chiefs found an ‘almost ubiquitous’ culture of aggressive door-knocking by male soldiers demanding sex with female colleagues

www.thetimes.com

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 14d

🚨Reminder: FOI Requester Training 🚨

Looking for an introduction, or a refresher on FOI?

We know how impenetrable the process can seem. Join us for a zoom masterclass from our Director Maurice Frankel on Thursday 16th October from 10am to 4pm.

Sign up details here www.cfoi.org.uk/2025/08/usin...

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Reposted by Campaign for Freedom of Information

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland @cfoiscot.bsky.social · 19d

The Scot Parliament’s SPPA Committee is consulting on the FoI Reform Bill. They want 2 hear ur views by 22 October 2025 so a great opportunity to declare your support for better enforceable FoI rights. yourviews.parliament.scot/sppa/freedom... @foi.scot @KatySClark @nujscotland.bsky.social

Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill - Scottish Parliament - Citizen Space

Find and participate in consultations run by the Scottish Parliament

yourviews.parliament.scot

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 20d

📢FOI in the news!

TfL abandons Low Traffic Neighbourhood study after unpublished results showed they increased cycling but did not reduce car use according to FOI disclosures obtained by the Times (paywall).

www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...

#TfL #LTNs #joinCFOI #transparency #accountability

TfL suppressed report showing LTNs don’t cut car use

Sadiq Khan and his mayoral officials have spent years saying low-traffic neighbourhoods deter motorists

www.thetimes.com

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 21d

92% were answered on time compared to 74% in the equivalent period last year and 37% were answered in full up from just 26% a year ago.

The FCDO retains its spot at the bottom of the timeliness rankings having provided late responses in 42% of cases.

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 21d

Q2 2024-2025 Government FOI Statistics

Central government FOI statistics for April to June 2025 are out and show the highest number of requests in a quarter since 2019 coupled with a significant reduction in delays.

www.gov.uk/government/s...

Freedom of Information statistics: April to June 2025 bulletin

www.gov.uk

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 22d

🚨Reminder: CFOI invites both beginners and experienced requesters to our next online training course on Thursday 16th October 2025.

Please see this link to secure your space
www.cfoi.org.uk/2025/08/usin...

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 23d

⚖️ Information Tribunal Ruling ⚖️

A request for any correspondence “from” a specified official about a particular matter included information to that official in the same email chain, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has ruled.

beta.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKF...

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 28d

🚨Learn how to craft effective FOI requests with confidence!

On Thursday 16th October from 10:00 to 16:00, we will be running an online course both for those new to FOI and those who wants to make more effective requests.

Please see this link for more detail
www.cfoi.org.uk/foi-training/

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · 29d

Operation Duet: ‘No Information Held’ response defies National Policing Standards.

neilwilby.com/2025/09/08/o...

Operation Duet: ‘No Information Held’ response defies National Policing Standards

When a police force undertakes a major investigation under intense public, press and TV scrutiny, financial transparency isn’t a bureaucratic footnote—it’s a core duty. An obligation that isn’t jus…

neilwilby.com

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Reposted by Campaign for Freedom of Information

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · Sep 6

🚨 Exclusive: APPG bankrolled by Israeli arms cash shuts down

A cross-party parliamentary group has disbanded after taking money from a state-owned Israeli arms company — exposing a “glaring” loophole in lobbying rules.

New on Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/controvers...

Controversial MPs’ group shuts down after Israeli arms cash probe

Exclusive: “Glaring” loophole in lobbying rules allowed Tory ex-MoD advisor to set up parliamentary group funded by the arms industry

democracyforsale.substack.com

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · Sep 5

Learn how to make an effective #FOIA request. Limited places are still available for our next training session on Thursday 16th October May. Register now at: www.cfoi.org.uk/2025/08/usin...

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · Sep 2

📢 Do you want to learn how to use the Freedom of Information Act or make better requests under it?

If so, we are running a training course for requesters on Thursday 16th October 2025 from 10:00-16:00 by Zoom.

Please follow this link for more detail: www.cfoi.org.uk/2025/08/usin...

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · Sep 1

Happening this Wednesday and what an excellent line up!

Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · Aug 26

Next Weds, I'm chairing a Freedom of Info anniversary event @instituteforgovernment.org.uk with a great line-up: @jennacorderoy.bsky.social @itscrowbot.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social @lynnwyeth.bsky.social John Edwards & Lord Falconer

Join us! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/foi-ac...

The Freedom of Information Act at 25: What next for freedom of information? | Institute for Government

The event includes proposals and discussion about how the Freedom of Information system can improve for the future.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · Aug 27

📢FOI in the News!

BBC FOI disclosures find that 20 out of 39 police forces continue to use the Dash (Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour Based Violence) risk assessment despite expert consensus over its flaws.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#domesticabuse #transparency #accountability

Domestic abuse screening tool doesn't work, Jess Phillips says

The safeguarding minister says the Dash questionnaire has

www.bbc.co.uk

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Campaign for Freedom of Information @campaignfoi.bsky.social · Aug 26

Revealed: “Skyrocketing” scale of UK police's Secret Facial Recognition Searches of Passport and Immigration Databases.

privacyinternational.org/news-analysi...

#facialrecognition #joinCFOI #transparency #accountability

Revealed: “Skyrocketing” scale of UK police's Secret Facial Recognition Searches of Passport and Immigration Databases

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests have revealed the rapidly increasing scale of police mass facial recognition searches against the passport and immigration databases.

privacyinternational.org

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