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Freedom of Information

Media and communications — Authorised Professional Practice

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Summary

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, including the police service, subject to conditions and exemptions. Each request for information must be evaluated based on its specific circumstances. If media representatives seek information that is available but not listed on the force website, it can be obtained from the corporate communications department, provided no risks are involved. In situations where fulfilling a request could lead to excessive time or if the release is uncertain, the media representative should be directed to the force’s freedom of information team. Each police force is expected to maintain its own publication scheme.

Key principles

  • 1Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows access to recorded information.
  • 2Requests are assessed based on individual circumstances.
  • 3Corporate communications can provide readily available information.
  • 4Direct media queries to the freedom of information team if needed.
  • 5Each force must have a publication scheme.

Defined terms

Freedom of Information Act 2000
Provides a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities.

Full guidance

Guidance on engaging with the community, communication platforms and relations with the media

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000(opens an external website in the same tab) provides a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, including the police service (subject to conditions and exemptions). Every request for information should be assessed on its own specific facts.

If a member of the media requests information that is readily available but is not on the force website, it can be provided by the corporate communications department (CCD), unless there is any risk in doing so.

In cases where it would require a disproportionate amount of time to secure the information, or if it is unclear that it should be released, the media representative should be referred to the force’s freedom of information team. Each force should have its own publication scheme.

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Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice and is updated over time. For the current, official version — including any operational detail not reproduced here — go direct.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.