Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information, and subject to exemptions, be supplied with that information.

Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information Act extends this right to allow public access to all types of information held.

This individual right of access to information came into effect on 1 January 2005.

Public authorities are required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme setting out the classes of information it holds, the manner in which it intends to publish the information and whether a charge will be made for the information.

The purpose of a scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness.

The Probation Service was required to have an approved publication scheme in place by 29 February 2004. The Act will be enforced by the Information Commissioner, a post that combines regulation of both the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts.

The Nottinghamshire Probation Board has adopted the New Model Publication Scheme produced and approved by the Information Commissioner in January 2009. You can download  FOI Model Publication Scheme PDF document here.  In addition, Nottinghamshire Probation Area has adopted a schedule which lists the classes and the information that is available on request.

To make a Freedom of Information request write to: