The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is BROKEN!

It's facing unprecedented delays — with complaints taking 6 to 12+ months to resolve, even in urgent environmental, planning, and transparency cases.

This has turned the ICO from a watchdog into a bottleneck.

We demand immediate government action to restore accountability and enforce statutory response deadlines.

📌 The ICO admits delays are “significant” with no timetable to fix them.

📌 Legal targets are routinely missed — many complaints wait 200+ days.
This undermines the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

📌 Public bodies and private contractors are using this regulatory failure to avoid scrutiny.

📌 Citizens deserve timely answers — and a functioning regulator.

 

💬 Call to Action:

We call on the UK Government to:

• Launch an independent review into ICO operational failures;
• Set statutory maximum resolution times for EIR and FOIA complaints;
• Provide emergency funding or oversight to clear the current backlog;
• Reinforce the ICO’s independence and enforcement powers.

📣 Who Should Sign:

• Anyone frustrated by ICO delays,
• Journalists and campaigners affected by FOI stonewalling,
• Residents impacted by secrecy in planning, environmental, or council decisions.

THANK YOU FOR SIGNING AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT!