tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post6154407839096489813..comments2023-12-20T04:00:48.837-08:00Comments on Justice Denied: Response to FoIA request for costs of Paul Chambers prosecutionFlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07389779350824751473noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post-77246927330988675392010-10-20T01:51:50.164-07:002010-10-20T01:51:50.164-07:00I think the CPS response is reasonable. It will be...I think the CPS response is reasonable. It will be easier for them to calculate the total costs at the conclusion of the case and I think the Information Commissioner would accept that. Of course if you had to go that far, the case would be concluded by then anyway and you would have the information requested.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310816530673526803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post-72451089427528307472010-10-20T02:24:33.808-07:002010-10-20T02:24:33.808-07:00Doesn't this imply that they are not aware of ...Doesn't this imply that they are not aware of how much they are spending? How much money they are spending should certainly be a consideration for the CPS and should inform their decisions at every stage. Imagine looking back at the end of a case and saying "Oh my goodness, will you look at that? It seems we've spent £2,000,000 of the public's money!". That would not be very good financial management.Flayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17240490638654621405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post-38002562932972727332010-10-20T02:58:49.685-07:002010-10-20T02:58:49.685-07:00I agree with all that, except for one thing. We...I agree with all that, except for one thing. We're not talking about the costs that were calculated at the outset. We're talking about the running costs up until the present day. These costs will certainly be accounted for and I would expect the financial controllers to be monitoring them. It may not be urgent, but it's a reasonable request. The public has a right to know how much they have spent so far without having to wait until the case is concluded. Suppose the appeal is denied and has to be referred to the High Court? I'm not prepared to wait another year.Flayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17240490638654621405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post-34125886242242330542010-10-20T11:23:52.044-07:002010-10-20T11:23:52.044-07:00Matt - I know you've probably sent your reques...Matt - I know you've probably sent your request for IR now, but wanted to add/confirm:<br><br>While I can understand their approach, they have not made a proper response to your request for costs to date. You might want to point out to them that their letter is not a valid response to a request under FOIA for the following reasons:<br> <br>a) FOIA requires them ((s1(1)(a)) either to confirm or deny whether they hold the information requested, and the letter does not do this.<br>b) You asked for costs to date, and (as you suggest in comments) it is surely incontrovertible that costs must have been incurred to date by the CPS. The CPS has failed to communicate those to you, or alternatively failed to explain why there might be an exemption to disclosure, you require them now to issue you with a valid response to your request.Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907493328529709971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post-46280395543950666542010-10-20T11:57:45.366-07:002010-10-20T11:57:45.366-07:00Hi Jon,You are I are the only two people intereste...Hi Jon,<br><br>You are I are the only two people interested in this it seems. :) Thanks for the advice. I received virtually identical advice earlier today and I did in fact point out in my letter that it seemed the CPS were in breach of the FOI act for those reasons. They have acknowledged receipt of me letter. We'll have to wait and see what happens now.Flayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17240490638654621405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4682595924476788450.post-42141731448246143732010-10-20T12:21:11.975-07:002010-10-20T12:21:11.975-07:00Well...I am a bit of an FOI nerd/purist, but also ...Well...I am a bit of an FOI nerd/purist, but also interested in the cruddy prosecution of Paul Chambers. In fairness to Mr/Ms Kadir, I see where they're coming from, and they're not being too unhelpful, yet. I still think they might try it on with a (weak) s30(1) or 31 exemption.Jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907493328529709971noreply@blogger.com