Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 provides a 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.
Individuals have the right to request access to information, be informed whether or not the public authority holds that information and, subject to various statutory exemptions, be supplied with that information.
Police Scotland respond to around 3,000 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests a year and the responses are published on our disclosure log.
We would encourage you to please consult our Publication Scheme and disclosure log before submitting a request as the information you seek may already be available.
FOI requests must include your full name and can be submitted to foi@scotland.police.uk or to:
FOI - Information Management
Police Scotland
Clyde Gateway
2 French Street
Glasgow
G40 4EH
Please note that personal information is protected by Data Protection legislation and cannot usually be released in response to an FOI request. Individuals can however submit a subject access request to apply for their own, personal information.
Environmental Information
Access to information about the environment can be requested under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, which has similar provisions to that of FOI.
Any requests for environmental information will be dealt with under these regulations and can be submitted in the same way as a FOI request.
The definition of environmental information is very broad, and includes the state of the elements, the state of human health and safety, measures and activities affecting or likely to affect the state of elements of the environment, any factors such as substances, energy, noise radiation or waste, including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases, reports on the implementation of environmental legislation and cost benefit and other economic analysis used in environmental decision making.
The Scottish Information Commissioner
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 is enforced by the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC):
The Office of The Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
FIFE
KY16 9DS
The Commissioner's remit is limited to FOI matters and to Scottish public authorities, as defined by Section 3 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Enquiries relating to the Data Protection Act 2018 should be directed to the Information Commissioner (ICO).
