30/01/2025
The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) has condemned the continuous blocking of information by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). See:
https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=8a1d2e9726bffe0f84da35383&id=8c8ddbd86e
The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) has condemned the continuous blocking of information by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
In a recent seven page finding, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) was forced to instruct the PSNI to release information to journalist Tanya Fowles, who had spent more than a year trying to uncover basic information in the murder case of Katie Simpson.
"This is a complete waste of time for all involved", said CIoJ President, Gerlad Bowey, “Police and public authorities are failing in their fundamental duty to be transparent and give public interest information to professional journalists.
"Rather than respect Article 10 freedom of expression, the duty to respect transparency and accountability, and the spirit of freedom of information and data protection legislation, we are finding police forces and public bodies revert unnecessarily to exceptions and abstruse reasons for saying no.
"We suspect this is deliberate lawfare and a cynical tactic to exhaust and wear down journalists who must meet urgent deadlines. It is appalling that journalists are forced to pursue complaints through the ICO for factual information which must always be a matter of public record.
"It is a widespread problem throughout the UK and Tanya Fowles, a CIoJ Member, has been at the forefront of calling out The Police Service of Northern Ireland on this issue,” Bowey said.
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