NUJ condemns Met Police criticisms of ‘vexatious’ FOI requests
The NUJ has condemned criticism from the Metropolitan Police of ‘vexatious ’ freedom of information requests relating to its use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to spy on journalists, describing the force as 'hiding in ‘bureaucratic excuses’.
It follows a long-running campaign by the Press Gazette against the Act which has seen the paper effectively barred from digging further into the story.
Justifying its stance the Met said it reserved the right to refuse requests which are which are ‘… intended to be annoying or disruptive or which have a disproportionate impact on a public authority.’
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, commented: "When it comes to dogged investigations intent on getting to the truth, clearly the Met don’t like it up ‘em. It says a lot about our capital’s police force that they are refusing to provide basic information about the extent to their snooping and targeting of journalists, preferring to hide in bureaucratic excuses rather than cough up and reveal the extent of how they have compromised sources and press freedom. Their response is outrageous and demonstrates just why this law needs to be scrapped."
Unbowed however the Press Gazette is being encouraged to bypass the force and go direct to the Information Commissioner’s Office rather than attempt an appeal.