Just back from the Centre for Investigative Journalism summer school with lots of ideas and memories of seeing people in London wandering around with surgical face masks on. (Those crazy city folk).
My starter for ten is: from Monday July 20 you can audit Avon and Somerset Police.
Once a year, for 20 working days, this freedom of information legislation comes into effect and for the cops it starts in, ooh, about 18 minutes.
As the Orchard News Bureau's helpful web site explains:
Section 15 of the Act enables electors and taxpayers of a particular borough or police authority area to inspect and make their own copies of council and police authority accounts.
These rights of inspection extend beyond the authority supplying data spreadsheets, listing income and expenditure, on request.
The public has a right to see the detailed contracts, invoices, receipts, books and bills that relate to the accounts of the recent financial year.
They've got guidance on how to do this.
So, want to see the receipts for the chief constable's expenses claims or maybe the contracts for services with Southwest One? Request away.
And if you'd prefer to have a look at Bristol City Council's paperwork then its open access period starts on July 27. Both Bath and Wiltshire councils have already started and Wilthire police also begins tomorrow. So get cracking (and let me know how you get on).
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