About Freedom of Information (FOI) and how to make a request

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​About Freedom​ of Information (FOI)

The Freedom of Information (FOI) law gives you the right to access information held by Scheduled Public Authorities (SPAs).

You can use an FOI to:

• learn how the Government of Jersey and other public authorities work
• take part in discussions about issues that affect you or your family
• support your research, business planning or decision‑making​
  

Everyone has equal rights under FOI:

• you don't need to pay to make a request
• your responses are published anonymously
  

The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 helps make public authorities more open and accountable. 

Scheduled Public Authorities (SPAs)

You can ask for recorded information held by the States of Jersey from the following SPAs:

• Cabinet Office (including Communications, Central Information Governance Unit, Ministers, Strategic Policy, Performance and Population)
• Children, Young People, Education and Skills
• Employment, Social Security and Housing
• Infrastructure and Environment (including Regulation, Driver and Vehicle Standards, and Planning)
• Justice and Home Affairs (including States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, States of Jersey Prison Service and Customs)
• States Treasurer and Exchequer, including Revenue Jersey
• People Services
• Digital Services
• Department for the Economy (including CERT)
• External Relations
• States Greffe (including States Members)
• Judicial Greffe
  
• Viscount's Department
  

The following organisations are covered by the law but must be contacted directly:

• Freedom of Information at Andium Homes
• Freedom of Information at the Comité des Connétables (parishes)
• Freedom of Information and Data Prot​ection at the Children's Commissioner for Jersey​

What you can ask for​

You have the right to ask to see recorded information held by SPAs.

Each SPA follows a retention schedule that sets out what information is kept and for how long. Information is not kept forever.

States of Jersey retention schedules

FOI applies to information held by SPAs. It doesn't cover personal information about you.

Asking ​for personal information​

If you want to request information about yourself, make a Subject Access Request (SAR).  

How to make a Subject Access Re​​quest (SAR)​

If you ask for personal information about someone else, then your request will be handled under FOI, but we'll follow the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018​​ to determine whether we can release that information.​

Information already ​available​

A lot of information is already published online, and may be available from previous FOI requests.​​

Information already available​ to you​​

Freedom of Information requests and responses

How to make an FOI request​

1. Submit your request

Your FOI request must include:​

• your full name
• a contact address, such as an email or postal address
• a clear description of the information you want, including the time period covered

You don't need to explain why you want the information.

Be as specific as possible with your request. This helps the SPA:

• find the information you want
• avoid misunderstanding your request

Make an FOI request​

You can also make an FOI request in writing by letter or email​​.​

If you need help with your request, email FOI@gov.je.

​​​​2. Our response to your request​

When we receive your request, we'll confirm:

• which SPA is handling it
• the response due date, usually within 20 working days

We can't create new or bespoke documents. The information will be provided in the format it's held.

3. Refusals and exemptions​

We may refuse your request if the information is already available, but we'll direct you to the relevant information.​

In other cases, a request may be refused if the information falls under an FOI exemption.

​​Freedom of Information: Use of exemptions policy guidance

4. Approving FOI responses​

The relevant SPA is legally responsible for approving the final response to your FOI request. They will send it to the Central FOI Unit, who will then provide the response to you.

If your FOI request is for HCJ or the States of Jersey Police​​, they will respond to your request​​​​ independently. ​​

5. After you receive a response​

After we respond, we may publish your request and response. You will remain anonymous.

Freedom of Information requests and responses

If you're not satisfied with your request, you can ask for an internal review. The contact details to request an internal review are included in your response.

We'll complete the review and explain the next steps if you remain dissatisfied.

​Freedom of Inform​ation: Internal review procedure​

FOI data and statistics​

We publish statistics about FOI requests each year in an annual report.​​

2025

Freedom of Information data and statistics

2024 and before

FOI statistics from before 2025 are available on Open Data. 

Freedom of Information ​data and statistics (2024 and before)

Contact us

Central Information Governance Office

• Telephone: +44 (0) 1534 440514
• Email: FOI@gov.je
• Address: 
  • Union Street
  • St Helier
    
  • Jersey
  • JE2 3DN​​