ICO Upholds Essex Police Refusal to Disclose Unedited Body-Worn Video
Key Takeaways
- 01The ICO accepted Essex Police’s use of the personal-data exemption to withhold unedited body-worn-video footage.
- 02The decision was issued on 1 September 2026.
- 03The ICO found that Essex Police failed to respond within statutory time limits.
- 04A public authority may have a lawful reason to withhold information but must still meet its procedural response deadlines.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has decided that Essex Police could refuse a request for unedited body-worn-video footage under the personal-data exemption. The decision, dated 1 September 2026, also found that the force failed to respond within the applicable statutory deadlines.
The personal-data exception can allow a public authority to withhold information where disclosure would improperly reveal personal information about identifiable people. In this case, the ICO accepted that Essex Police could rely on that exception for the unedited footage.
The decision nevertheless highlights that a valid basis for withholding material does not remove a public authority’s duty to handle requests on time. Police forces and other public bodies should ensure that they identify privacy issues promptly, assess whether redaction or other disclosure options are possible where relevant, and issue their response within statutory time limits.