FOI/202000064829 · FOI · partially withheld
Big cat ‘sightings’ evidence: FOI release
Information requested
1. any information relating to reports, sightings, encounters with or evidence of ‘big cats’ in Britain, specifically in Scotland; 2. any photographs of interest which may show any unusual animals or secondary field evidence, such as predation on livestock or unusual carcasses suspected to be the work of a big cat; from 2016 to the present day.
Response
I enclose a copy of the information you requested. An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie names, contact details and job roles and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, ie names, contact details and job roles and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.