Nosy parkers?
Gareth Dockerty
Gareth Dockerty discusses Freedom of Information requests, and why they are becoming an increasingly-talked about subject in shooting circles.
“Nosy Parkers” are part of all our lives, they will always exist.
We have all experienced that overly-curious neighbour who stares through our windows or that person who can’t can’t help but look at your phone or laptop on a train.
It is human nature to be inquisitive and probably a vital human trait. There is even an official route for those who want to peer behind the closed doors of organisations via a Freedom on Information (FOI) request.
For anti-shooting groups and individuals, the FOI is a well-used tool, and something many BASC staff have experienced in our work. After yet another FOI request featuring some of my work emails, I thought it might be interesting to cover the topic and its widespread use.
What is a Freedom of Information request?
We all have the right to request information from public authorities. Information can be obtained from organisations such as the police, government departments, councils, the NHS, plus publicly-funded or owned companies.
If you request environmental information, such as carbon emissions or species data, this falls within the environmental regulations. There is also a separate mechanism to request personal information via data protection regulations.
BASC is not a public authority, so we do not receive FOI requests directly. However, we undertake lots of our work with stakeholders and partner organisations.
My uplands work involves National Park authorities, government agencies, the police and water utility companies, which all fall within the FOI regulations. This means that communications to and from these organisations can and often are subject to FOI requests.
What's it like to be involved in an FOI request
It feels a bit odd that somebody is very interested in my work communications, and there is always the fear that a single email could be taken out of context or spun to fit a specific agenda.
There is also a strange sense of pride that an FOI request from an anti-shooting group highlights that BASC teams are building relationships and making a positive difference for sustainable shooting in the right areas. So much so, that those against shooting feel the need to pry.
I suspect that at times FOI requests have been used as a tool by anti-shooting extremist groups, bombarding organisations with requests to take up staff time and funds. That is obviously not what the regulations are for, however, it does seem to be a well-used tactic.
BASC and FOI requests
Like most organisations, FOI requests can be used if the usual routes to gain vital information do not work.
Sometimes information which may help secure the future of sustainable shooting or demonstrates the important benefits of the shooting community for habitats, species and communities is not in the public domain.
For our part, BASC will continue to work on behalf of our members and the broader shooting community, and we will not allow FOI requests to derail our vital work.
The recent breeding success of hen harriers is a fine example of organisations (including BASC) working in partnership with the looming threat of FOI requests.
In this particular example, we now have the best breeding numbers of hen harriers for over a century in England. Clearly there is still lots of work to be done, but we will not be distracted by FOI requests, remaining professional, diligent, and accountable.
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