# Does The United Kingdom Have An Equivalent To The Freedom Of Information Act? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975 "2015-10-28T15:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/1 "2015-10-28T15:11:48Z")
[Freedom of Information Act](http://www.foia.gov/) > [@](#): > > The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Does the UK have something similar? I ask because I’m researching a murder that took place there and I’d like to know how I can see the case files. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/2 "2015-10-28T15:39:43Z")
You want the _[Freedom of Information Act 2000](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents)_, unless the murder was dealt with in Scotland, in which case you want the _[Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2002/13/contents)_. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/3 "2015-10-28T15:43:28Z")
I’d check – there’s a pretty good chance such a law wouldn’t apply to non-citizens who want information. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/4 "2015-10-28T15:44:08Z")
Note that any documents you receive may be heavily redacted to protect innocent parties and certain investigative methods used. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/5 "2015-10-28T15:54:13Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’d check – there’s a pretty good chance such a law wouldn’t apply to non-citizens who want information. UK law will not distinguish between citizens and non-citizens in terms of the rights they have. That’s more of a US thing. But the overall rights of access to information may be more limited. The UK FoI legislation contains some quite sweeping exemptions relating to law enforcement and court records which may limit their usefulness to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Seren359](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Seren359](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seren359)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/6 "2015-10-28T16:00:09Z")
It is unlikely that you will get case papers in the Uk. These sort of things are often closed for 100 years. Possibly a simpler source of information is to find copies of local newspapers from the town or area involved. These will usually contain most of the relevant information. Local or town archives often keep copies. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/7 "2015-10-28T17:04:15Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > UK law will not distinguish between citizens and non-citizens in terms of the rights they have. That’s more of a US thing. Just for clarity, [anyone](http://www.foia.gov/faq.html#who) (citizen, foreigner, individual, corporation) can make a request under the US FOIA. Some state FOIAs are only available to state residents, however. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/8 "2015-10-28T18:05:05Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > [Freedom of Information Act](http://www.foia.gov/) > > Does the UK have something similar? I ask because I’m researching a murder that took place there and I’d like to know how I can see the case files. I actually know quite a bit about how to do this. PM me with more info and I can probably point you to the right place ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/9 "2015-10-28T18:29:16Z")
I would add you may well find you’re not entitled to the information you want, but there is certain info courts may give out depending on the case itself, what exactly you want, who you are (in relation to the case) and why you want it. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/10 "2015-10-28T18:42:08Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > I actually know quite a bit about how to do this. PM me with more info and I can probably point you to the right place Thank you, I may follow through on that in the future. Right now I’m only looking at what’s available from online sources. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/11 "2015-10-28T20:55:56Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Thank you, I may follow through on that in the future. Right now I’m only looking at what’s available from online sources. It’s possible you might find the written trial judgement using this page (England and Wales) [https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/judgments/](https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/judgments/) As a non-party, it might be tough to gain access to a full trial transcription though, never mind case notes and the like. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/12 "2015-10-29T00:49:30Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > It’s possible you might find the written trial judgement using this page . . . In a murder trial there typically won’t be a written judgment, just a verdict (“guilty” or “not guilty”). If there’s an appeal against conviction, there may be written judgment available from the appeal. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/13 "2015-10-29T07:22:20Z")
Yep it does and I’ve used it myself (in relation to TfL - the body in charge of London public transport). I made my request via this site - very straight forward with appropriate time-related reminders: > **[Make and browse Freedom of Information (FOI) requests](https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/14 "2015-10-29T18:17:10Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > In a murder trial there typically won’t be a written judgment, just a verdict (“guilty” or “not guilty”). > > If there’s an appeal against conviction, there may be written judgment available from the appeal. Yep, though the Judge’s sentencing remarks are particularly important when someone gets a life sentence (which is mandatory for a murder conviction). If a case goes to the Court of Appeal there will be a written judgement and when there is an important matter of law at stake the case will be reported, which means either a summary or full text of the judgement can be got from the Law Reports. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/15 "2015-10-29T21:17:03Z")
Ours is a mouse of a FOIA, and there are plans to water it down even further. Tony Blair openly curses the day he was ever persuaded to introduce it. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-united-kingdom-have-an-equivalent-to-the-freedom-of-information-act/735975/16 "2015-10-30T00:11:11Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Just for clarity, [anyone](http://www.foia.gov/faq.html#who) (citizen, foreigner, individual, corporation) can make a request under the US FOIA. The information that will be released to you under FOIA may vary depending on who you are in relation to a matter, though. I’ve had ridiculous situations in which a married couple both signed FOIA request forms to obtain a copy of the immigration file to the petition one spouse filed for the other, and had the results redacted. Or the beneficiary of a petition filed by a parent who received a copy of the petition, but with all the parent’s information redacted. Which is kind of ridiculous, considering she obviously knew her mother’s name, etc.