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The Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30th November 2000 and creates new rights of access to information, it supersedes the 'Code of practice on Access to Government Information'. The Act also amends the Data Protection Act 1998 and Public Records Act 1958.

The Act was fully implemented in January 2005 when the right of individual access came into force; this is also in line with the right to individuals to have access to personal data held about them under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our Publication Scheme

One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (which is referred to as FoIA in the rest of this document) is that public authorities should be clear and proactive about the information they will make public. To do this they must produce a publication scheme, setting out:

1) The classes of information which they publish or intend to publish;
2) The manner in which the information  will be published; and 
3) Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

The Fire Authority's publication scheme consists of information already published and held by the Authority or information that is to be published in the future.  That means that all information in our publication scheme is either available for you on our website to download and print off or available in traditional document form. Information within the publication scheme will be available either free or at a charge.

• Further information about our Publication Scheme
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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How to Make an Information Request or Complaint?

Anyone can make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act - there are no restrictions on your age, nationality, or where you live. You can ask for any information at all - but some information might be withheld to protect various interests which are allowed for by the Act. If this is case, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will tell you why the information is being withheld.

If you ask for information about yourself, then your request will be handled under the Data Protection Act instead of the Freedom of Information Act.

To make it easy we have created a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), please check through this list as you question may well be answered.

Details of all requests for information, including those dealt with at initial request stage, must be forwarded to the Corporate Planning and Performance Department by emailing cpp@manchesterfire.gov.uk to enable the auditing and monitoring of all the requests for information received by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

Once you have checked the information in our Publication Scheme, you will need to put your request in writing so we have a permanent record of it.

Your request will be dealt with under FOI or the access rights applicable under other legislation, such as the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. (Information about the right of subject access under the Data Protection Act may be found on our data protection web pages).

You can send your request by letter, fax, email by filling in the following form:

• Information Request Form (Wrd: 486 KB)
• Information Request Form (PDF: 43 KB)

How Much will it Cost?

Most information requests are processed free of charge, however, we charge for the provision of certain information such as extracts from fire reports, fire investigation reports and petroleum licensing information to cover the costs involved in producing that information.

• Information currently Published and our Publication Charges (PDF: 59 KB)

How Long will it Take?

We will confirm receipt of your request and ask for clarification if we are unclear about what you want.

Any request for information will be dealt with within 20 working days from receipt of request, if a decision to release cannot be made against the balance of public interest within 20 days, then a decision will be made within a reasonable time frame.

In these circumstances the fire authority is still required to issue a notice that an exemption applies under provisions of section 17 of the Act within a 20 day working limit.

How you Receive the Information?

When you make a request you may ask that the information be given to you in a particular form. However, a public authority may take into account the cost of supplying the information in this form before complying with your request.

You should be able to receive the information:

• in permanent form
• in summary form
• or by permission to inspect records containing the information

You may also be able to receive it:

• in Braille
• in audio format
• in large type
• translated into another language

Information Exemptions

Requests made Verbally: Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 a request must be made in writing. Any request in person or by telephone is not covered; however the Freedom of Information Act 2000 makes it important to assist anyone who makes a verbal enquiry in the same way as before. Any applicant who has made a verbal request but cannot be dealt with must be advised that if further information is required under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 they have to make the request via fax, e-mail or in writing to the Corporate Planning and Performance Department at FSHQ.

• Duty to confirm or deny (AG21) - External link
• Prejudice and adversely affect (AG20) - External link
• Public interest test (AG3) - External link

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Complaints and Feedback

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) are fully committed to providing the highest possible levels of service to the public of Greater Manchester. If you believe you have cause for complaint please follow the procedure detailed in the leaflet you can download below.

• GMFRS Complaints Procedure (PDF: 247 KB)
• Make a complaint/compliment here >>

If you want to make any comments about the information you have received or if you require further assistance or need to make a complaint then initially this should be addressed to the Authority's Management Information Officer at:

Corporate Planning and Performance
Fire Service Headquarters,
146 Bolton Road,
Swinton,
Manchester, M27 8US.

If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get from the Authority or if we have not been able to resolve your complaint and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the office of the Information Commissioner. This is the organisation that ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints.

They can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 745
E Mail: data@dataprotection.gov.uk

Find out more:

• Publication Scheme
• FAQs