YOUR RIGHT TO INFORMATION
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 places duties on all public authorities, including police authorities and police forces. The Act is part of a wider initiative to make government and its decision-making processes more open and accountable and provide authorities with an opportunity to review their openness and accessibility.
The Information Commissioner is responsible for promoting the Act, advising on good practice and may overrule an authority's decision not to disclose information.
Summary of the Act
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 was fully implemented in January 2005 and allows any individual or body to have the right of access to information held by the authority. This right of access includes both a right to be told whether the information exists, as well as the right to receive it. From June 2003, both police authorities and police forces were required to adopt and maintain a 'publication scheme' and to publish information in accordance with the scheme.
How to request information
If you wish to request information from North Yorkshire Police Authority under the Freedom of Information Act; please detail your request in writing to:
Freedom of Information OfficerNorth Yorkshire Police AuthorityPO Box 106RiponHG4 5WAOr email to info@nypa.gov.uk with Freedom of Information Request in the subject line
Should we not hold the information you have requested, we may forward your request to the Information Law Unit at North Yorkshire Police. To do so, however, your permission is required and we will contact you before we forward the request.
We have 20 working days to respond to your request and endeavour to do so in every instance.
Publication Schemes
Under the Act, police authorities and police forces are required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme which sets out:
- the classes of information it publishes or intends to publish
- the manner in which it intends to publish the information
- whether a charge will be made for the information.
The purpose of the publication scheme is to ensure that a significant amount of information is made available to the public, without the need for a specific request, and to encourage pro-active publishing of information. In addition, it will help to promote greater openness and transparency in public authorities.
Model Publication Scheme
From January 2009, a new model publication scheme was introduced by the Information Commissioner, which standardises the way public authorities explains what information it proactively publishes. 
Publication Scheme [51kb]
Further detail on the North Yorkshire Police Authority scheme including its guide to where you can find the information can be found by clicking on this link:Our Publication Scheme
