This is a Media Law Update covering the past month prepared by the Legal Information Team at Matrix Chambers, which they have kindly agreed to make available to readers of Inforrm.

Latest Regulatory Decisions

Latest decisions of the Scottish Information Commissioner

Latest Decision Notices from the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Latest decisions of the First-tier Tribunal, General Regulatory Chamber [Information Rights]

Recent Developments

Police chief: NYT refused to help phone-hack probe, PA Mediapoint, Press Gazette – 7 Sep 2010, Reports that a senior officer has said that the New York Times has refused to co-operate with British police looking into the allegations of phone-hacking it made last week.

The Blair Memoirs and FOI, The Campaign for Freedom of Information, Press Release – 6 Sep 2010.  “That Tony Blair regrets introducing the Freedom of Information Act has been known for some time. But the force with which he reproaches himself in his new autobiography for doing so is truly remarkable.” You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 discussed Tony Blair’s comments about Freedom of Information in his memoirs. Maurice Frankel, director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information was interviewed for the programme. You can listen here. The interview is about 46 mins in.  Panopticon blog also discusses this issue.

Alan Johnson to review NoW phone-tap files. PA Mediapoint, Press Gazette – 3 Sep 2010, Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said he will review Home Office papers on the interception of private voicemail messages of prominent people, dating from his time as Home Secretary, before offering his advice on the issue to his Conservative successor Theresa May. He suggests there may be a case for HM Inspector of Constabulary to investigate allegations relating to phone-hacking by journalists at the News of the World.  See also “Coulson ‘happy to meet police’ over phone-hack claims”.

Stig injunction refused; 5RB Website – 2 Sep 2010.  Notes that the High Court, Chancery Division, has refused the BBC’s application for an interim injunction to restrain the publication of a book that may disclose the identity of The Stig in the Top Gear television programme.