Freedom Of Information
Legislation governing the freedom of information can be traced back to the early 1980's when Dr. Carleton Williams published the result of a four year study entitled Public Government for Private People, The Report of the Commission on Freedom of Information and Individual Privacy. From these early beginnings the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act came into effect on January 1, 1991.
Principles of the Legislation
The legislation is based on the following principles:
- information held by an institution covered by the legislation should, in general, be available to the public
- exemptions from the right of access to information should be limited and specific
- personal information held by institutions should be protected from unauthorized disclosure
- decisions relating access to information should be reviewed by the independent Information and Privacy Commissioner
How to Access Information
To access information with the Port Hope Police Service, you can fill out an application form, available at the front desk. The application fee of $5.00 must be received at that time before the request for access to information can commence. Alternatively, you can write a letter, listing in detail the type of information you are requesting. Requests for information held by the Port Hope Police Service must be in writing. Normally, a decision is made within 30 days. However, if circumstances dictate that third parties need to be contacted, then an extension of the deadline will be made. You will be notified in writing about our decisions at all stages of the request, from third party notifications to the final decision letter.