The Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) gives you the right to obtain all types of recorded information that public authorities – including the CRE - hold, with only a few exceptions.

The Act came fully into force on 1 January 2005. The Department of Constitutional Affairs website provides full details of the Act, and your rights under it - see the Links section on the right-hand side of this page.

This section explains how the FOI Act works, what information you can ask us for under it, and describes the types of information that are already publicly available as part of the CRE's publication scheme. 

How does the FOI Act work?

The FOI Act was introduced in two phases. The first, which came into force in November 2002, required central government departments to produce a publication scheme. This is an inventory of the information they publish, or plan to publish, so that people know what is already available without their having to ask for it. The scheme has to be approved by the Information Commissioner.

The CRE's publication scheme includes:

• the types or 'classes' of information we publish or intend to publish;
• how we plan to make the information available (for example on paper or on a website); and
• details of any charges.

You can download a .pdf version of the CRE’s publication scheme from the Links section of this page.

The second, and final, stage of the Act came into force on 1 January 2005. It entitles everyone to ask any public authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for any recorded information they hold, apart from a very limited number of exceptions.

Top of this page

How do I request information from the CRE?

Before you contact the CRE to make a request, we strongly advise you to check whether the information you require is already available through the CRE’s publication scheme.

If the information is not listed in the scheme, you can write to us to request it under the General Right of Access provision of the Act.

Please note that request must be made in writing, either by post, fax or email. However, our information services helpline will be able to help you with general enquiries about making requests under the FOI Act.

Requests should be sent to:

Commission for Racial Equality
St Dunstan’s House
201-211 Borough High Street
LONDON
SE1 1GZ

Email: info@cre.gov.uk

Fax: 020 7939 0001

Please include your full name and address with your request.

CRE information services helpline: 020 7939 0000 (general enquiries only; requests for information under the Act must be made in writing)

Top of this page

Will I have to pay a fee?

In some cases, yes. Fees are charged according to the central government charging regulations set out on the Department for Constitutional Affairs website.

We will inform you in writing if a fee will be charged for your particular request.

Remember that the information you need may already be available free of charge under our publication scheme. We strongly advise you to refer to the scheme before making a written request.

Although we aim to respond to all requests within 20 days, where a fee is payable this timescale comes into effect only once the fee has been paid in full. If the fee is not paid within three months, we will assume that you no longer require the information.

Top of this page

When will I receive the information?

You can expect a reponse within 20 working days of receiving your request. Please note however that where we are entitled to charge a fee for a request, this timescale only comes into effect once the fee has been paid.

Top of this page

Are there any types of information which aren't available?

There are certain categories of information which are exempted from the General Rights of Access provision of the Act, such as personal data and commercially sensitive information.

Additionally, there are certain limited circumstances where the CRE has to preserve confidentiality if it is not in the public interest to disclose the information. These are described in Part II of the Act.

If your request for information is refused, we will write to you specifying which exemption under the Act is being claimed, and explaining our reasons for doing so.

Top of this page

How do I request data the CRE may hold which relates specifically to me?

The Data Protection Act 1998 gives living individuals a right of access to personal information we hold about them, on computers or in manual filing systems. However, there are exemptions, and we will deal with requests on a case-by-case basis.

Please send requests for access to information under the Data Protection Act, in writing, to the Information Manager. Please give as much detail as possible to help us find the information.

Top of this page

What if I want to make a complaint about the way my request has been dealt with?

If you are not satisfied with the response we provide to your request, you can seek a review by writing to our information manager at the CRE's head office in London. You will need to set out the grounds for your complaint, and state clearly when the original request was made, and to whom.

We aim to respond to your complaint within 30 working days, although it may take longer if the complaint is particularly complex. We will keep you informed if we need further time to respond.

You should address your complaint to:

The Information Manager
Commission for Racial Equality
St Dunstan’s House
201-211 Borough High Street
LONDON
SE1 1GZ

If, having received a response from our information manager, you are still dissatisfied with the way we have handled your request you may take your complaint to the Information Commissioner, who enforces and oversees the Act.

Top of this page