ICO Decision Notice: Greater Manchester Police FOI Complaint

ICO Decision Notices

Filed February 3rd, 2026

Detected February 14th, 2026

Summary

The ICO has upheld a Freedom of Information (FOI) complaint against Greater Manchester Police (GMP). GMP failed to respond to a request for information within the statutory timeframe and did not conduct adequate searches, breaching FOI Act sections 1(1) and 10(1). GMP is now required to disclose specific property-related information.

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What changed

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice upholding a Freedom of Information (FOI) complaint against Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The ICO found that GMP breached sections 1(1) and 10(1) of the FOI Act by failing to respond to a complainant's request for information related to property taken from a deceased person within the 20-working-day limit and by not conducting adequate searches. GMP initially cited health and safety exemptions, later revising its position to personal information exemptions, and also acknowledged some of the request was for the complainant's own personal data.

Greater Manchester Police is now mandated to disclose the Electronic Property Management System log and an email chain from the attending officer, with officer names redacted in both. They must also search relevant CAD records and disclose any held property-related information, again with officer names redacted. If any information is deemed exempt, GMP must issue a refusal notice in compliance with section 17 of the FOI Act. This decision highlights the importance of timely responses and thorough searches in FOI requests for public authorities.

What to do next

Disclose the Electronic Property Management System log (redacting officer names).
Disclose the email chain from the attending officer (redacting officer names).
Search CAD for property-related information and disclose if held (redacting officer names), issuing a refusal notice if any content is exempt.

Source document (simplified)

Chief Constable Greater Manchester Police

Date 3 February 2026
Sector Police and criminal justice
Decision(s) FOI 1: Upheld, FOI 10: Upheld The complainant has requested information connected to property taken from the premises of a deceased person, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP). GMP initially refused to confirm or deny whether any information was held, citing section 38(2) (Health and safety) of FOIA. During the Commissioner’s investigation GMP revised its position, citing section 40(2) (Personal information) and saying some information was not held; it also recognised that some of the request was for the complainant’s own personal data (it provided advice on how to properly request this). The Commissioner’s decision is that GMP breached sections 1(1) (General right of access) and 10(1) (Time for compliance) in failing to respond to the request until after 20 working days had elapsed. Furthermore, he finds that GMP failed to comply with section 1 of FOIA in that it did not advise what information was held and did not undertake adequate searches. GMP is required to disclose the Electronic Property Management System log, with any officer names redacted; disclose the email chain from the attending officer, with any officer names redacted; search the relevant CAD and disclose property-related information only, if held, redacting officer names. If any related content is deemed exempt from disclosure a refusal notice should be issued complaint with section 17 of FOIA.