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Senior police officers may face Freedom of Information scrutiny

0 Comments | Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), Jul 29, 2010 | by brian currie

SENIOR police officers, private prison operators and Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) may face closer scrutiny under plans to make them more accountable.

They are currently exempt from Freedom of Information (FoI) inquiries, but the Scottish Government yesterday launched a consultation on broadening the scope of the legislation, which gives people the right to access information from publicly funded bodies.

Organisations specified in the 14-week consultation include the private contractors running Addiewell and Kilmarnock prisons and those that transport prisoners.

The unique scale and public profile of GHA means there are strong grounds for it to be covered, according to the Government. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, which represents senior officers from the eight forces, is also on the list.

Private contractors that build and maintain schools, hospitals and trunk roads could also be included but it is likely each will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Bruce Crawford, the Minister for Parliamentary Business, said the Government was committed to the principles underpinning FoI requests, but he added it would carefully consider whether it was appropriate to impose new regulatory constraints and the associated costs on to companies.

He said: “These principles of openness and transparency are essential parts of open democratic government, nowhere more so than in following the expenditure of public money.”