Information Commissioner's Office

The complainant requested, from the ICO, information about whether the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) is subject to FOIA and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (the EIR). The complainant requested that information across two requests (submitted on the same day) – one about FOIA, and one about the EIR. The ICO refused the requests, on the basis of section 14(1) of FOIA (vexatious requests). Subsequently, in their internal review request, the complainant requested further information about the case officer “obtaining approval” before issuing the refusal, and ICO officers. The Commissioner’s decision is that FOIA was the relevant information access regime; the ICO was correct to refuse the requests on the basis of section 14(1) of FOIA; and there have been no procedural breaches. The Commissioner doesn’t require any steps as a result of this decision notice. Information Tribunal FT/EA/2025/0250 under appeal.