@clairemiller@mstdn.social
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

clairemiller

@clairemiller@mstdn.social

I’m an award winning investigative #datajournalist with more than a decade's experience of using #data skills to dig out data, find stories, and create #visualisations.

I've grappled with thousands of #spreadsheets and #datasets in search of stories. Then found lots of quicker techniques and formulas to speed that up.

I am also an enthusiastic sender of #FreedomOfInformation requests. I've doggedly pursued access to #FOI information I need, up to winning against the ICO in court.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

clairemiller, to random
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Getting an answer - any answer - to your isn't always easy. And it might be getting harder.

Figures for both Scotland and the rest of the UK suggest few get everything they ask for.

So which stories saw success with their FOI request this week...

https://clairemiller.net/2024/02/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-2-2024-foifriday/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Statistics show in 2023, the Scottish Government received 4,459 freedom of information requests.

But just 1,434 of these received a full response within the legal timescales – meaning 68% of FOIs were either late, refused or redacted.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24113244.snp-presiding-rotten-culture-secrecy-amid-foi-responses-fury/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Figures are similar for UK Government departments as a whole - for July to September 2023, a similar 68% were either fully or partially withheld or just unanswered.

For 24% of requests a response is still outstanding, the highest proportion on record since figures began in 2010.

clairemiller, to random
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

You sent off an request. And you've got an answer!

But then when you come to write the story, suddenly the public body is disputing what it sent you

This happens depressingly often with FOI...

More on this & successful FOI stories in thread & here: https://clairemiller.net/2024/02/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-9-2-2024-foifriday/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Talking about compensation payments, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust said, due to human error, there were inaccuracies with data provided.

The MEN asked for an explanation of the 'inaccuracies' and updated figures but none have been provided

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/staggering-amount-greater-manchester-hospital-28550878

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

These kind of inaccuracies are very unhelpful.

It does also suggest some poor quality control in putting together responses, a lack of taking seriously, or just rubbish records management.

As shown here, it's not always easy to get updated information.

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Greater Manchester hospital trusts paid out almost £6m in compensation for injuries suffered by mothers and babies during birth.

shows Tameside & Glossop paid out £3.8m between Nov 2021 and Nov 2023, while Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh paid out £1.6m.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/staggering-amount-greater-manchester-hospital-28550878

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

This was a fast turnaround.

shows 26,586 owners applied for their XL Bully-type dog to be exempt from being confiscated and destroyed under new rules that came in at the start of February.

Of these, 22,420 were successful – and 4,166 were denied.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13063219/More-22-000-XL-Bullys-avoid-Governments-crackdown-dangerous-dog-breed-owners-successfully-apply-exemptions.html

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Applications to council crisis funds for help with beds for children have soared

show in 2018/19 there were 4,316 requests – of which 2,294 were successful (53%). By 2022/23 this had risen to 17,534 applications, of which 7,227 were successful (41%)

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Crisis-support-requests-quadruple-in-five-years-FOI-reveals/58807

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

More than 12,000 Scots died before reaching hospital by ambulance in 2023, Scottish Labour has revealed.

The figure increased from more than 7,100 in 2019 – a 70% rise in four years.

https://news.stv.tv/sport/more-than-12000-died-before-reaching-hospital-by-ambulance-last-year

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

shows 553 children were arrested for gun crimes in England and Wales last year.

Figures for the previous year from the 21 forces that provided a number showed there were 438 children arrested, a 26% rise in the last 12 months.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13060683/hundreds-children-arrested-police-gun-crimes.html

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Councils in the Gwent area have spent more than £3.2m on settling non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with staff who leave their employment.

shows the five local authorities in the Gwent region have settled 227 NDAs with departing employees since 2019.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24102001.taxpayers-gwent-stump-millions-ndas-former-council-staff/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

An request submitted to Sussex Police by Newsquest's AI team has revealed 32 dogs were reported taken in total last year.

This included six in May and four in August.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24091193.dozens-dogs-reported-stolen-sussex-last-year/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Are councils using AI to make savings?

A £200,000 saving made by Derby City Council using AI was achieved through losing agency staff, has confirmed.

Last year, council chiefs said introducing AI assistants Darcie and Ali helped save the cash.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/agency-staff-lose-jobs-derby-9084828

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

NHS hospitals are spending tens of thousands of pounds battling a surge in rat infestations.

shows the average number of times NHS trusts have called in pest control services to get rid of rats and mice has risen by 50% since 2018.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13042743/NHS-hospitals-spend-tens-thousands-pounds-fight-RAT-infestations.html

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Southampton City Council has forked out more than £100k over the last two years to tackle a rising number of bed bug infestations.

shows, £103,724 has been spent on clearing 473 incidents between November 2021, and November 2023.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24094790.southampton-council-spent-100k-tackling-increasing-bed-bug-problem/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

A total of 264 buildings and pieces of land in Hertfordshire are currently unused or derelict, has revealed

The sites vary from small areas of woodland, a few roadway/pathways, and some larger sites held for future service use or future development.

https://www.thecomet.net/news/24103440.hertfordshire-264-buildings-pieces-land-unused/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Stay informed about #FOI news and tips by following the blog: https://clairemiller.net/blog/

Or by signing up for my newsletter: https://clairemiller.net/blog/#newsletter

clairemiller, to random
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

The theme of this week's is the use of to reveal poor and/or illegal behaviour.

FOI can be a really powerful tool for bringing things to light (particularly the extent of them).

Read the latest post:

https://clairemiller.net/2024/02/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-2-2-2024-foifriday/

or some highlights in this thread.

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Medical blunders, equipment malfunctions and other healthcare ‘failings’ have cost NHS Ayrshire & Arran nearly £5.5m in legal fees, shows.

On at least three occasions surgical ‘foreign bodies’ were seemingly left “in situ” following procedures.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/medical-blunders-healthcare-failings-cost-31975359

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Asking about misconduct proceedings? You could ask how many quit while being investigated.

shows 15 Police Scotland officers either resigned or retired in the last year while subject to the complaints process.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/police-scotland-officers-avoided-misconduct-cases-quit-snp-holyrood/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Do your local police take reports from the public about bad driving?

An shows, in 2023, more than 40% of footage submitted to Dorset Police led to police action being taken against the driver.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24071001.drivers-shopped-police-road-offences/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

After a two-year legal battle, officials have finally been forced by a court to reveal that the booze bill for a Brexit party in No10 was £7,897.

Guests consumed 117 bottles of £65 Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2014, made in Kent and Sussex.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/cost-boris-johnsons-boozy-brexit-31987267

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

We've covered pothole payouts fairly regularly, but what proportion of complaints about damage and injuries are actually successful?

shows Nottinghamshire Council has settled just 90 cases out of a total 1,601 complaints received in the last year.

https://www.gedlingeye.co.uk/transport/more-than-5k-paid-out-to-gedling-borough-drivers-chasing-pothole-compensation/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

An request has revealed Somerset Council is owed £50,469.15 for bills listed as overdue, which cover 21,099 items.

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/24068794.somerset-council-owed-50k-library-fines/

clairemiller,
@clairemiller@mstdn.social avatar

Stay informed about FOI news and tips by following the blog: https://clairemiller.net/blog/

Or by signing up for my newsletter: https://clairemiller.net/blog/#newsletter

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • JUstTest
  • kavyap
  • DreamBathrooms
  • InstantRegret
  • magazineikmin
  • osvaldo12
  • mdbf
  • Youngstown
  • cisconetworking
  • slotface
  • rosin
  • thenastyranch
  • ngwrru68w68
  • khanakhh
  • megavids
  • ethstaker
  • tacticalgear
  • modclub
  • cubers
  • Leos
  • everett
  • GTA5RPClips
  • Durango
  • anitta
  • normalnudes
  • provamag3
  • tester
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •