Apparently the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act, heralded a number of courses and seminars offered to government departments on how to defeat ‘hostile’ attempts to access previously difficult to get at information. Jim Gibney demonstrates its potential, in bringing us gain access to statistics on a range of arrant behaviours of on and off duty policemen. It is precisely this transparency is key to bolstering democracy and make politicians (not to mention civil servants) answerable to the wider citizenry. Contrary to Gibney’s argument, we need more questions, not less.
Update: Seems Jim got the FoI figures from the Belfast Telegraph.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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