FOI/202600522689 · FOI · partially withheld
Briefings provided by the Chief Constable to the Scottish Government: FOI release
Information requested
Briefings provided by the Chief Constable to the Scottish Government between 1 May 2026 and 19 May 2026.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested which is included at Annex A. Some of the information is subject to the below exemptions.
Exemptions apply under sections :
Section 38(1)(b) – personal data of a third party , ie names, email addresses, job titles, telephone numbers, 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.
An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. This exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to provide free and frank advice to Ministers or other officials before the Scottish Government reaches a settled public view. Disclosing the content of free and frank advice on sensitive emails and documents will substantially inhibit the provision of such advice in the future, particularly because these discussions relate to a sensitive or controversial issue such as public disorder.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
Some of the information is subject to the below exemptions. Exemptions apply under sections : Section 38(1)(b) – personal data of a third party , ie names, email addresses, job titles, telephone numbers, 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. An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice.