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Freedom of Information – a guide to getting information from the IPCC

The IPCC is committed to being open and transparent so we welcome requests for the information we keep and will only refuse them if there is a good reason to do so.  

Information access requests are dealt with in different ways depending on the information being asked for. There are four types of request:  

1. Information about an IPCC case in which you are involved

If you would like to know more about your case you should contact the IPCC investigator or casework manager who is dealing with the case.  If you do not know who this is please contact our enquiries section at enquiries@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0845 3002 002.

If you would like to know about a case in which you are not involved the request should be made under the Freedom of Information Act.  

2. Information about the IPCC – the Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act provides you with a general right of access to recorded information held by public authorities, subject to certain exceptions. For example, personal information about other persons is usually exempt from the right of access and your own personal data can only be released to you under the Data Protection Act.  

As required by the Act, we already publish a great deal of information under our Publication Scheme which can be viewed on our web site or sent to you on request.

If you cannot find what you are looking for on our publication scheme you should make an information request in writing to the IPCC Information Rights Team. Requests can be made by letter or email. Please mark your letter ‘REQUEST FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT’.  Requests must state your name, give an address for correspondence and describe the information requested. We will send you the information requested within 20 working days. You have a right to complain to the IPCC FOI Complaints Officer if you disagree with the way we have dealt with your request and after that, you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner – see our contact details page. FOI complaints to the IPCC must be made within 90 days of our decision notice to you.

Before making a request under the Freedom of Information Act, please read our leaflet ‘Access to information about the IPCC – the Freedom of Information Act 2000' (pdf 36.3k)

3. Personal information we hold about you – the Data Protection Act 1998

The Data Protection Act provides you with a right of access to your own ‘personal data’ – the personal information we hold about you as an individual. We hold personal data for a number of reasons. For example, if you have made a complaint against the police in which the IPCC has been involved or if you are or have been employed by IPCC we will hold some of your personal details.  However, the Data Protection Act does not provide a right of access to any information that may be connected with you (e.g. because it is held in a file relating to your complaint against police), but only to your own ‘personal data’.  

You can ask to see your personal data by writing to the IPCC Information Rights Team. Please mark your letter ‘REQUEST FOR PERSONAL DATA UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT’. You may need to provide proof of identity when seeking personal data and, once we are satisfied with your identity, we will send you the information requested within 40 days. You can request a review by the Information Commissioner if you disagree with the way we have dealt with your request– see our contact details page

Before making a request to IPCC for your personal data, please read our leaflet ‘Access to personal information about you – the Data Protection Act 1998’ (pdf 34.3k)  

Further information about the IPCC and the Data Protection Act is contained in the IPCC Data Protection Policy leaflet.

4. Information about the IPCC and the environment - the Environmental Information Regulations 2004

The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) give you the right to access environmental information from public bodies and other authorities. You might, for example, want to use these Regulations to find out about how the IPCC takes account of the environment in its policies concerning procurement and energy use.

Requests for environmental information can be made to us by any method – including face to face, by phone, in writing or via e mail and should be made to the IPCC Information Rights Team.  Please mark your letter ‘REQUEST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION’.

Your request should always state your name, give an address for correspondence and describe the information requested.

Any request to the IPCC for information concerning the environment will be dealt with under the EIR, regardless of whether it is labelled as an EIR request.

Before making a request to IPCC under the Environmental Information Regulations.  Please read our leaflet ‘Access to information concerning the environment – the Environmental Information Regulations 2004’ (pdf 34.8k)